Character

Pordy

blunt simplistic nuance-averse

Pordy teaches Ellie Bartlet and dismisses her detailed explanation of Middle East conflict—rooted in religious tensions, land disputes, suspicions, and culture—with a curt 'Wrong,' blaming heat and water scarcity instead. Bartlet recounts this anecdote in the Situation Room to puncture crisis tension, highlighting Pordy's blunt simplicity against his daughter's insight. The story humanizes the president through everyday family humor during high-stakes diplomacy.

3 appearances

Also known as: Mr. Pordy

Pordy's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

3 moments

S4E3 · College Kids

From Levity to Command: Bartlet Orders East Lansing Visit and Counsel

Not present; used as a foil in the President's story.

Mr. Pordy is referenced in Bartlet's anecdote as a blunt teacher whose simplification of Middle East conflict provides comic contrast to complexity; he is not present but functions rhetorically.

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S4E3 · College Kids

Parachute Alert — Israel Accused, Diplomatic Options on the Table

Not present; represented as an emblem of simplistic thinking contrasted with nuance.

Mr. Pordy is referenced in Bartlet's anecdote as Ellie's blunt teacher; he is part of the tonal pivot—his 'Wrong' line gives Bartlet comic ammunition to break tension.

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S4E3 · College Kids

Levity Before the Hunker‑Down

Not present; characterized as simplistic and emblematic of shallow analysis.

Mr. Pordy is referenced as Ellie's blunt teacher who dismisses nuance with a glib 'Wrong,' serving as a foil in Bartlet's anecdote that criticizes oversimplification.

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Affiliation

NSC Operations Unit