G.I. Joe

G.I. Jane functions as President Bartlet's rhetorical archetype for a female service member facing court-martial over fraternization. Bartlet invokes her to expose a perceived gender double standard in military justice, contrasting her fate with male officers like Eisenhower, who pursued subordinates without punishment, and Hammond, involved with junior officers' wives. In the Oval Office clash over the Vicky Hilton case, this reference forces Leo and others to confront fairness gaps, chain-of-command rigidity, and the President's resolve to intervene. She sharpens the administration's moral critique of Navy practices amid political pressures.