Toby is perhaps most capable of speaking truth to power out of Bartlet's inner circle because communication is his job. It's what he does for the president and the administration, and CJ's role in directly implementing that communication might explain her later willingness to call Jed to the carpet. For that matter, CJ's personal and professional frustration at being kept in the dark about sensitive matters was a recurring theme of the early seasons, giving a solid justification for her inability to be the one to speak truth to power during much of her tenure as press secretary. Chief of Staff CJ leveled up in a lot of areas.
I've seen this episode, and this scene, many times. It's an amazing piece of work...but today, in 2023, is when I realized that the sound of the door closing at the very end is NOT the sound of a door closing, but of Toby's rubber ball. When this show was on its game, it was on like few other shows ever are.
The best part is that Toby did NOT apologize for his comments or for shouting. He was 100% right, both in content and tone, and everyone in the room knew it.
Maybe the president needed Toby's comments and Toby's shouting to realize he made a mistake in hiding his diagnosis from the American people and now needed to come forward.However i think this episode changed the relationship between the president and Toby because maybe it's just me but i don't think they were as close as they were.Plus if i remember correctly of the president's staff Toby was the first hire not including Leo.
One is not addressing an individual person while in the Oval Office. They are addressing an institution that is POTUS. Raising your voice like Toby did, regardless of how justified he was, is approaching the line of what is accepted.
@@HarrisonHollers Exactly. That is what makes it so powerful. This was not a petty grievance or a political one. What the President had done violated the basic tenets of his office and the Constitution. Because the President was not being the President, Toby spoke like this.
@@cureholder I would counter your point to say that it was political; for obvious reasons. Toby and Jeb had some memorable showdowns in the Oval Office. Both are supreme intellectuals. Wonderful show! One of my favorite episodes; I love the use of the racquet ball to symbolize the heart beat of the White House and those who work there.
@@HarrisonHollers Absolutely. But by "not political," I mean that Toby was not trying to advance his position or gain something. He was genuinely offended by the conduct of the President and Leo (and the other 15 people). He was standing up for the system of government, not for a particular party or position.
I have heard others express this but, this is why Toby as the leak didn't make sense. This Toby would have never in a million years betrayed Jed Bartlett.
iandhr1 Richard wanted off the show so they wrote that it was him. But then the produces said this is the last season so he said oh well I will finish it out. I think it was CJ that was the leak
I disagree. We saw him and the president get into a massive fight over the MS thing. I believe Toby has a moral compass he won’t betray even if that means he has to go against the president.
Tad Tranclere great points! I'm so torn with it. I do feel Toby loves to debate, and does have an incredible moral compass. But I always struggle with it. I think when push comes to shove, he's on the team.
I think the team that Toby was on when it came down to it, when he was really desperate, was the American People. I think everyone on the Bartlet Administration was loyal to Bartlet but Toby was loyal to him because he was right for the American people. C.J was like a daughter and Josh like a son to Bartlet but Toby was his conscious and moral core so when Bartlet did something that went against that core and was not protecting the American People Toby had to do something because that was who he was defending even if it meant going up against Bartlet. I love Toby and I originally hated that fact that he leaked the story but after thinking about it if anyone was going to leak it, it would have been Toby, he was the only person that it made sense for.
Poor Toby, things would have been so much easier for him if Bartlett hadn’t apologized… That was definitely a deal breaker for him. I mean a deal breaker for leaving with a clear conscience, now he had to stay. Never underestimate the value of a true apology when a good man deserves it.
The tragedy is that Toby knew and loved Bartlett enough to know the man would eventually apologize. Tragedy because it required this much anger and vitriol to bring about the apology.
Did he really mean it though? He said the same thing to Leo ("I'm sorry, I really am") and was choking up while doing so- this felt far more like a begrudging non-apology. Almost as if Bartlett were saying "I'm sorry that you are offended/upset by what I did" which is really NOT an apology.
I think it’s the next episode where josh talks with an assistant us attorney about some case against big tobacco and the us attorney says “they perpetrated a fraud against the public” and it just sticks with josh the whole episode
Looking back on it, its crazy how many times there were these moments, where Toby finds a way to stun Leo and Bartlet in the Oval Office. He gets under their skin, but its flawless speaking truth to Power. coup d'etat
I liked it when Leo and Margaret had a small conversation about -- a coup d' tat. When she said she was pretty good at copying the President's handwriting and could sign anything that was really necessary. He bit her head off! P.S. It was cute, but I've always found it a little hard to believe that anyone in Margaret's position would know how incredibly illegal that would be.
bobert4him Oh yeah. I don't care which side of politics your on. If a politician is willing to admit that they made a mistake, the people will show them massive respect.
@@michaelheath2866 If you're referring to Trump, for one, you're completely wrong. He sure as hell downplayed the pandemic. Also, he stopped being president before you posted this. Good riddance to him.
"Because you're not the one with MS." In my own family, I've seen what the more rapid degenerative variant can do. I can kinda see where he's coming from. It's horrifying to watch.
What makes you all think he was that good in school? Personally, I find that most people like Sorkin actually don't do well in school because they feel too compartmentalized in the system. They aren't free to think outside the box and be creative. That is one of the fundamental problems in education today.
It is amazing how this fictional universe has a president and staff that actually cares about the people and being honest. Does not happen these days, probably rarely ever has.
What's the downside of increased security screening at airports? Delays, certainly. But the delays cause large crowds to collect outside the security barrier - and those crowds are an excellent target in themselves. THAT'S the downside.
Ehh...kinda of a slippery slope there. Handling a large crowd isnt that hard. Simple build the security entrance in a way that there's no single horde, but "hallway-like" areas. Thats not a perfect solution, b yhat's not the only solution. In addition, most attacks are on the planes themselves, so the threat level is much lower. It's like hoe schools are now building gates around their campus. Sure, it stops outside Intruders, but since most schools shooters are current or former students, the threat stopped is minuscule. Same with the airport thing. Longer delays isn't increasing the threat level as much as the stronger security lowers the threat level. But that's all assuming the TSA works, which it really doesn't.
@@MrJamberee Seriously most people don't even have 2 forms of picture ID unless you have a passport. But if you're a normal person who doesn't do a lot of travelling abroad your drivers license is your only picture ID.
Toby was the president's voice. Imagine the pressure of giving voice to that mess. Anyway, a savvy administration hires the guy who causes you discomfort. And that's Leo's doing.
This show exists, so that we can look back and see what a caring (yet fictional) government may have looked like. This will have significance for centuries... Unless controllers destroy it
A lot of fail here. The President was woefully hilariously naive to think keeping his condition secret wasn't going to become a huge albatross around not just his neck, but the necks of his staff. As for Toby, though he was absolutely right to call out the President, he should have been more sympathetic to the President's condition. Diplomacy and tact matter.
Even though your right, its fits Toby's character or the Sorkins version of him. Toby is smart , passionate and idealistic. He also writes beautifully but he himself has a short fuse, prone to anger outburst and isn't really diplomatic in the way he approaches things. He's also emotionally closed off. Its probably why he liked having Sam as his number 2 since he covered all of his short comings.
@@jackblack9605 I agree with you. Also, remember, he's been thinking about this for days. He knew something was up, and he knew Leo was lying to him. It was eating him hard. Every time he says "OK" to Leo, he means, "OK, you're lying to me, great"
So the 17 were: Jed Abby Their 3 daughters Charlie The diagnosing doctor Fitzwallace Hoynes Leo Toby The anesthesiologist in the beginning of Season 2 when Jed has surgery to remove the bullets That’s 12. Can someone pls remind me of the rest ? Thanks.
I believe that he did leak the news the episode when he got the homeless vet a military funeral without asking and the president I'm paraphrasing what if I give all homeless vets a military funeral Toby said one could hope. There Comes A Time with friends families and colleagues when honor and integrity comes before the rule book and Toby became a whistleblower.
1:33 Leo gives a look to President after Toby talks about fraud as if he didn't think they were committing fraud, like, this is news to him, like, oh shit, fraud... or it just became very real...
"I have no intention of apologizing to you Toby." One and half minutes later: "I'm sorry. I really am." Even moments like these where you could theoretically turn this into a meme, the scene is so poignant that it just doesn't feel right.
The count of 17 is based on a very naive view of the world. People love to gossip. Even if the medical professionals who knew, Bartlet's family, Leo, and Fitzwallace were discreet and told no one, At a minimum, Hoynes would have told several of his key aides. And political aides are heavy gossipers. Word would have spread far before Toby figured it out. Hoynes should not have been in the first group to be told.
I loved West Wing, and it's especially relevant (astoundingly so) after what has happened here since the cheesy golden escalator ride of 2015. But I was always bothered by how President Bartlet's dialogue was written. He was far too flippant far too often.
Despite loving this show and the character, Toby's speech pattern: always speaking quietly under his breath, is incredibly irritating throughout the series. I know it's part of his character, but god does it make him more unlikable.
He is one of the most brilliant characters in TV history. Real focus and determination. Everything had very deep meaning for him and he held people accountable. I always found him incredibly noble and admirable.
