Toby Finally Learns the Truth | The West Wing 

I think it was good that the show had Toby be the first to learn about the president's MS and let the viewers see his reaction because others might not have had the same reaction he did.

At about 1:50, when Bartlett has decided/been told to tell the truth, the camera pans around him and the famous portrait of George Washington, blurred but recognizable, comes into view. Absolutely intentional, but so very subtle.

"I have MS, Toby." - *Upbeat music plays.*

Best writing for the Toby Ziegler character, right here.

This comes up later, but here we see Bartlet pay the price for having such a strained relationship with his VP. If they were closer they would have talked about whether or not he was planning to run for a second term - instead, Hoynes felt he had to start laying the ground work for his own potential run because he assumed Jed was going to stick to his one and done plan.

This is why Toby as the leak made no sense. This Toby Zeigler would have never in a million years betrayed Jed Bartlet like that.

Toby was always the smartest in the room.

To be bourbon, it has to be 1) at least 51% corn mash, 2) aged in new, white oak barrels (that's where the brown color comes from), 3) at least 80 proof and 4) produced in the United States, any state, even New Hampshire. The most popular bourbon that isn't marketed as bourbon, is Jack Daniel's, which is technically bourbon, but marketed as "Tennessee sipping whiskey". Kentucky is just where the majority of bourbon comes from, due to the limestone in the water used to make it, but there's no legal requirement for bourbon to come from Kentucky.

Me too, Mr President

They all came true! Hospice president is truer than ever.

So a couple of technical errors in this scene. Bourbon can be made anywhere in the US (it's not limited to Kentucky). Kentucky is the capitol or "Manhattan" of bourbon, though. (There's other rules to bourbon: at least 80 proof, aged in new charred oak barrels, no adding of colors or flavors, and more) With Sour Mash you're taking some of the mash from the previous batch to kickstart the distillation of the next batch.

The shot of George Washington in the background at 1:45 is brilliant. I cannot tell a lie...

Probably some of the greatest scenes in television history.

Whatever the staff’s reaction, only Donna expressed concern about the president himself.

Shame you cut out the, "debate" part of it

4:00 I find it interesting that he managed to condense his initial concerns, diagnosis, and ongoing treatment into that small soundbite on a few minutes notice, but didn't feel the need (or want) to do that on the campaign trail. Could've literally just said that to camera in a campaign ad and the American public (at least in the show's version of the 1990s) would've likely gone "Oh, so it's not the terminal kind....in that case, what's your plan for healthcare?". But because of his pride, his hubris, his childhood trauma, and his desire for both a private life AND one of the most public roles in the western world, he chose to hide it from even his best friend and the woman that was basically his surrogate mother/big sister. He was scared of rejection, of betrayal and denial and scorn and misunderstanding and straight-up hatred, and he let that cloud his judgment over something that could've easily been a footer in a newspaper column. One of the more grim ways most of us can relate to Jed Bartlet

what makes that scene is Tobies reaction

multiple sclerosis toby

Sure. End it before Bartlett and Toby argue which is the best part

This never had a lot of dramatic impact for me because 1) FDR was diagnosed with polio about 12 years before he ran for president the first time, and 2) when does somebody's private medical info become a necessary disclosure?

Not true about bourbon having to be from Kentucky.

Shame it cut at the end. Toby says, “Doesn’t bother me. Cheers.”

I’m not sure why this is coming up on my feed next to Biden news. 🤔

If Toby had the courage of his conviction, he would have said, "You've betrayed the American People, Mr President. Resign and we can work with Hoynes to advance our agenda. If you don't, I'll resign and tell all to the press." Of course, that's not what happened. Toby raged about a coup d'etat, but in the end, he and the rest of the staff cared more about access to power than truth & honesty.

Yeah, best not show how Toby reacts.

How did Bush get any work done when they were always filming the show in the White House?

How on Earth can one of the greatest nations on earth with such talented human beings that produce this award winning drama series not manage to find presidential candidates that are fit for office where the ravages of time have affected both President Trump and President Biden? As your oldest friends from the U.K. see the men and women in the USA, who fought and died with our parents and grandparents in two World Wars suffer US Veterans being treated with contempt by one presidential candidate for 20th January 2025 and wilful neglect by the other presidential candidate, it is distressing to see both individuals use each others’ declining health as political bullets. For what it is worth, and this is from someone who served in uniform, the British Empire is no more. It declined and is gone. That hurt. Yes, a remarkable “Commonwealth” of nations replaces it and that is a wonderful thing. But our British Empire is no longer a global empire so large that it was described as one “upon which the sun never sets.” When I worked in America, building and creating jobs, it always impressed me how the United States looks after and respects its veterans and especially how so many Americans are rightfully proud to have their nation’s flag hoist on their homes and workplaces. The gentle advice. Wise words all Americans will recognise: “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.“ My point? Both current presidential candidates have lost sight of: “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Please America, whatever political party you come from, please persuade the current candidates to stop using each other’s advancing years and Ill health as political soundbites. Please ask both presidential candidates to retire with at least some dignity. To have worked until your eight and ninth decade on this planet is an honourable thing. The judgement of Solomon to cut the baby in half was a painful one to contemplate for religious and atheist alike. To persuade the two gentlemen, President Trump and President Biden to BOTH retire now would be a Herculean task. But the reputations of BOTH presidents would be enhanced by such a dignified exit. Much more importantly, two new candidates from the GOP and the Democrats would help stave off what is clearly the decline of America. As a Scot and a Brit , I would urge my friends in America, “it is not yet time for the American Republic to go the same way as the British Empire.” You guys elected Ronald Reagan from a certain profession. Without wanting to suggest a president from Hollywood Central Casting, someone with the credentials and calibre of Martin Sheen would go a long way to healing visibly painful and gaping division in a country which has the very opposite wording in its pledge of allegiance currently prevails from the actions of presidents #45 and #46. As with Martin Sheen’s President Bartlett, the award winning “West Wing” is fiction. Mostly. But surely there are talented people from the 280,000,000 population who have this vocabulary, intellect and honour of another great American, Mr Jeff Daniels and this iconic monologue: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ML3qYHWRIZk.html Better still is this lesser known insight: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bPzClXk7GWw.html This message is said with great affection and respect to my friends in the U.S.A. from one of your many, many friends in the U.K. Best wishes, Russ McLean, Tod Head Lighthouse Station, by Montrose, Scotland, Britain.

Jed is wrong. To be bourbon, it needs to meet the requirements of being crafted as bourbon, and made in the united states.

Toby is the Eeyore of the show. Toby is Tiger. President is Pooh. CJ is Owl. And the viewer gets to be Christopher Robin. This show is just ripping off Winnie the Pooh.

Today it would be: Biden: I have late onset dementia Toby: Sorry, sir? Biden: What are you doing in my office?

I bet Aaron Sorkin severely regrets writing this scene in light of present circumstances with the current Democratic President