War Crimes

Act One commences with Sam Seaborn offering Donna Moss crucial advice before her House deposition, where she faces questioning regarding campaign documents. Donna, under oath, makes a critical error, denying she keeps a diary—a lie that will soon unravel with significant legal repercussions. Meanwhile, President Bartlet and Abbey return from church, engaging in a spirited debate over a lackluster homily and the interpretation of Ephesians 5:21. Bartlet, a passionate orator, laments the decline of meaningful discourse, emphasizing the need for mutual submission in a media-saturated age. His philosophical musings are abruptly interrupted by the devastating news from C.J. Cregg: Melissa Markey, the nine-year-old girl from the Abilene church shooting, has died. Grief-stricken, Bartlet demands to see Leo McGarry, who proposes a politically charged strategy. Leo suggests sending Vice President Hoynes to Texas to confront hostile legislators on gun control, leveraging the tragedy to push back against weakening concealed carry laws championed by the NRA. This sets a collision course for Hoynes, who views the mission as political suicide in his home state, especially with reelection looming. The act culminates with Cliff Calley, Majority Counsel for the House Government Oversight and Reform Committee and Donna's former romantic interest, conducting her deposition. He subtly probes her, then reveals his knowledge of her diary, exposing her perjury and foreshadowing severe legal repercussions for Donna and potentially the administration.

Thunder rumbles, rain lashes Washington as Will Sawyer, a seasoned reporter recently expelled from Myanmar, appears in C.J.'s office. He reveals a damaging quote from Toby Ziegler: 'If the President wins reelection, it will be on the Vice President's coattails.' C.J. promises to investigate, her loyalty to the team clashing with the journalist's pursuit of a scoop. Meanwhile, Sam Seaborn battles a seemingly trivial legislative issue—a bill to eliminate the penny—but recognizes its potential to derail crucial school modernization bonds, seeking a compelling reason for White House opposition. The political stakes escalate as President Bartlet confronts Vice President Hoynes, demanding he champion gun control in Texas. Bartlet outlines the NRA's systematic efforts to weaken concealed carry laws across states, framing Hoynes's mission as a courageous counter-scheduling move. Hoynes, however, views it as political suicide, fearing alienation from his base. Concurrently, Leo McGarry meets General Alan Adamley, who vehemently opposes the President's support for a War Crimes Tribunal, arguing it compromises national sovereignty and risks international entanglements. Adamley warns of catastrophic congressional backlash. Toby, realizing his offhand remark has leaked, frantically summons all junior staffers and senior assistants to a mandatory meeting, his flustered demeanor betraying his anxiety. The personal drama deepens as Cliff Calley confronts Donna Moss outside her apartment, revealing he saw her diary during a previous visit. He coolly recites federal statutes for lying to Congress, perjury, and obstruction of proceedings, leaving Donna reeling with the terrifying reality of her legal exposure. This act tightens the screws on multiple fronts: political leaks, policy battles, international law, and personal betrayal, all under the shadow of the Texas tragedy.

The White House hums with tension as Josh Lyman presses Sam Seaborn for a 'good reason' to oppose the seemingly absurd penny abolition bill. Sam, surprisingly, reveals compelling data: two-thirds of minted pennies languish in jars, their production environmentally costly, and their utility minimal—except in Illinois tollbooths. This seemingly minor issue underscores the intricate web of political maneuvering. C.J. Cregg, still navigating the fallout from Toby's leaked quote, encounters Will Sawyer again. Will, a self-proclaimed 'god' to a Fijian tribe, dismisses the leak as mere gossip, hinting at his higher journalistic standards. In the Oval Office, President Bartlet intensifies his pressure on Vice President Hoynes, demanding he publicly advocate for stricter gun control in Texas. Bartlet passionately invokes Melissa Markey's age—'She was nine years old!'—and dismisses the 'tradition' of gun ownership, while Hoynes, playing devil's advocate, highlights the hypocrisy of focusing solely on gun deaths when alcohol, tobacco, and even axes cause more fatalities. Their debate underscores the deep ideological chasm and political risks involved. Simultaneously, Leo McGarry and General Adamley continue their heated discussion on the War Crimes Tribunal. Adamley staunchly defends national sovereignty, fearing American soldiers could face foreign prosecution, while Leo argues for universal justice against crimes like genocide. The personal crisis for Donna Moss reaches a boiling point as she confesses to Josh Lyman that she lied under oath about her diary, and Cliff Calley saw it. Josh explodes, his fury driven by the potential for perjury and obstruction charges to derail the administration amidst the MS investigation. He vehemently reminds her that she doesn't get to decide what's 'material,' leaving Donna shattered by the gravity of her mistake and Josh's raw anger. This act escalates all major conflicts, pushing characters to their breaking points and highlighting the profound personal and political stakes.

Toby Ziegler confronts his junior staff in the White House Mess, delivering a powerful, somber address about team loyalty and the corrosive nature of leaks. He acknowledges his own leaked quote but rejects a witch hunt, instead reaffirming his unwavering commitment to his team, subtly shaming the culprit while offering protection. His words underscore the profound value of internal trust within the high-stakes political environment. Sam Seaborn secures a 'dumb but good enough' reason from Toby to oppose the penny bill: the Speaker of the House, like Lincoln, hails from Illinois, the only state where pennies are still used in tollbooths, making the issue politically untouchable. This resolution highlights the often-unseen, idiosyncratic forces shaping policy. Will Sawyer, to C.J.'s surprise and relief, declares he will not publish Toby's leaked quote, dismissing it as 'gossip' and 'not news.' He articulates a profound journalistic ethic, refusing to be a 'stenographer' for trivialities and emphasizing the critical importance of substantive reporting, particularly in tumultuous times. This decision protects Toby and elevates Will's character. The most devastating revelation unfolds in Leo McGarry's office as General Adamley, in a calculated move, exposes Leo's past involvement in 'Operation Rolling Thunder.' Adamley reveals Leo, as an F-105 pilot in 1966, bombed a civilian dam, causing eleven casualties, implying Leo himself could face war crime charges. Leo is utterly shattered, the weight of his past crashing down, forcing him to confront the moral complexities of warfare and the very tribunal he champions. Finally, President Bartlet and Vice President Hoynes engage in a raw, furious confrontation. Bartlet assails the Second Amendment and concealed carry, while Hoynes accuses Bartlet of mismanaging the MS reveal, publicly outing him. Despite their bitter animosity, they acknowledge their mutual dependence for reelection. Hoynes, a shrewd political operator, agrees to go to Texas but demands 'a seat at the table' for his loyalty. The act culminates in a tense, rain-swept park where Josh Lyman meets Cliff Calley, exchanging Donna's diary for an hour of review. Josh, using specific diary entries as leverage, warns Cliff against any leaks, then returns to Donna, offering a small, awkward gesture of comfort, a fragile peace settling over the exhausted pair. The White House machine, scarred by these clashes, endures, its members 'subjecting to one another in reverence's tense rhythm.'