Interpersonal insecurity and validation: Toby's sense of professional marginalization and the President's need to preserve authority while reassuring and retaining staff loyalty (Bartlet <-> Toby; Bartlet's performative dominance vs private affirmation).
Interpersonal insecurity and validation: Toby's sense of professional marginalization and the President's need to preserve authority while reassuring and retaining staff loyalty (Bartlet <-> Toby; Bartlet's performative dominance vs private affirmation).
Events in This Arc
On a nighttime pickup game outside the White House, Bartlet refuses to yield despite looking winded and, to everyone's surprise, brings in Mr. Rodney Grant — a federal employee who …
Toby interrupts a lighthearted White House reception to confront President Bartlet about their recent distance and the still-raw worry that he was second choice for Communications Director. Bartlet answers with …
In a warm, slightly comic Residence gathering—wolves, vending machines and chili punctuating the mood—Josh produces a green evacuation card and publicly refuses it, calling it a "white flag of surrender." …