The West Wing
S2E1
· In the Shadow of Two Gunmen Part I Flashback

Leo Defends Ruthless Staff Purge, Ignites Bartlet's Presidential Ambition

On a frigid October night outside the VFW hall, Bartlet confronts Leo over firing his trusted campaign staff, including Cal Mathis, leaving only unknown Toby Ziegler. Amid heated barbs—Leo branding Bartlet a 'crappy politician' and mocking his unopposed elections—Leo reveals his deeper disillusionment with mediocre candidates. He hails Bartlet as the principled 'good man' who can win the presidency, overcoming Bartlet's doubts with rallying vision. This tense clash forges their unbreakable alliance, transforming a local campaign into a national force and underscoring Leo's sacrificial loyalty amid the present-day crisis.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

5

Bartlet confronts Leo about firing his campaign staff, revealing Leo's unilateral decision to reshape the team.

calm to frustration ['Sidewalk outside the VFW Hall']

Leo defends his actions, asserting Bartlet's political shortcomings and his own role in making tough decisions.

frustration to defiance ['Sidewalk outside the VFW Hall']

Bartlet challenges Leo's motives, questioning why a seasoned political player would back him.

defiance to introspection ['Sidewalk outside the VFW Hall']

Leo passionately declares his belief in Bartlet as a rare good man who can transcend cynical politics.

introspection to inspiration ['Sidewalk outside the VFW Hall']

Leo paints a visionary future for Bartlet's campaign, sealing their partnership with a promise of transformative leadership.

inspiration to determination ['Sidewalk outside the VFW Hall']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

8
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

Frustrated anger flaring into indignant defense, softening to doubtful hesitation then nascent resolve

Bartlet confronts Leo heatedly about firing his trusted team, defends his electoral record against mockery, expresses outrage at losing familiars for unknown Toby, questions Leo's motives invoking Hoynes, voices self-doubt on presidential viability, yet follows and absorbs the rallying vision as they walk.

Goals in this moment
  • • Reproach Leo for unilaterally firing known staff and demand explanation
  • • Probe Leo's true motives amid suspicions of personal or political opportunism
Active beliefs
  • • His proven electoral success in New Hampshire validates his political skill
  • • Losing familiar staff undermines campaign stability and personal trust
Character traits
Protective of loyalists Defensive of achievements Vulnerable to doubt Open to inspiration
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey
Leo Thomas McGarry (Chief of Staff)
White House Chief of Staff
 primary

Mocking amusement veiling deep disillusionment, surging to passionate conviction and unyielding resolve

Leo joins Bartlet on the frigid sidewalk, bluntly admits firing the entire known staff while retaining Toby Ziegler, mocks Bartlet's unopposed elections with grinning sarcasm, then turns resolute, delivering a visionary speech hailing him as the 'good man' for President, walking off then facing him directly.

Goals in this moment
  • • Defend the staff purge and assert decision-making dominance
  • • Convince Bartlet of his unique presidential potential and secure his commitment
Active beliefs
  • • Bartlet's past staff were worthless obstacles to victory
  • • A principled 'good man' like Bartlet can shatter the myth of unelectable integrity
Character traits
Ruthlessly decisive Sardonically witty Fervently loyal Visionary strategist
Follow Leo Thomas …'s journey
Cal Mathis
primary

fired by Leo from Bartlet's campaign staff

Character traits
relentless pragmatic frustrated risk-averse
Follow Cal Mathis's journey
Jerry Walters
White House Staffer
 primary

fired by Leo from Bartlet's campaign staff

Character traits
sarcastic conversational tactful shocked derisive partisan humorous conciliatory qualified diplomatic nostalgic competent light-hearted professional performative
Follow Jerry Walters's journey
John Hoynes
Vice President of the United States
 primary

referenced by Bartlet as a bigger party player who would offer Leo national chairmanship

Character traits
Ambitious symbolically influential politically astute conflicted tense institutional collegial Formidable fundraiser ambitious pragmatic impatient discernibly reserved authoritative public-facing loyal Party-anointed schedule-driven essential skeptical Opportunistic persistent demanding accessible resilient ceremonial
Follow John Hoynes's journey
Mack
primary

fired by Leo from Bartlet's campaign staff

Character traits
passive stunned silent resigned pragmatic strategic defensive risk-averse observant decisive dutiful warm precise authoritative composed
Follow Mack's journey
Steve Onorato (Capitol Hill Power Broker)
Reporter
 primary

fired by Leo from Bartlet's campaign staff

Character traits
media‑savvy opportunistic combative confrontational politically strategic outspoken defensive persistent awkwardly apologetic
Follow Steve Onorato …'s journey
Toby Ziegler
White House Communications Director
 primary

the only staff member retained by Leo after purge

Character traits
pedantic vulnerable principled guarded strategic decisive resolute central to Toby's emotional arc determined ruthless methodical affectionate healthy tender defiant sarcastic loyal protective irascible newborn detail-oriented
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
VFW Hall

The sidewalk outside Nashua's VFW Hall serves as the raw, exposed stage for Leo and Bartlet's explosive post-rally clash, its frigid October chill mirroring emotional frost while post-speech adrenaline lingers from inside, forging their alliance amid breaths fogging under harsh lamps and veterans' banners snapping nearby.

Atmosphere Bitingly cold with fogging breaths, tense intimacy laced with sarcasm turning inspirational, shadowed by brick …
Function Arena for private political reckoning and motivational showdown
Symbolism Threshold from local campaign chaos to national ambition's forge, embodying loyalty's trial by New England …
Access Open public sidewalk, intimate two-man confrontation excluding fired staff
Frigid gusts and freezing October night air Harsh overhead lamps illuminating fogging breaths Proximity to VFW Hall's brick walls and snapping banners

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What this causes 3
Emotional Echo

"Leo's declaration that Bartlet is 'a good man' (past) resonates in their cheek kiss before surgery — a private affirmation of their foundational trust."

Zoey's Tender Reunion with Wounded Father
S2E1 · In the Shadow of Two …
Emotional Echo

"Leo's declaration that Bartlet is 'a good man' (past) resonates in their cheek kiss before surgery — a private affirmation of their foundational trust."

Bartlet Defiantly Orders Government Continuity
S2E1 · In the Shadow of Two …
Emotional Echo

"Leo's declaration that Bartlet is 'a good man' (past) resonates in their cheek kiss before surgery — a private affirmation of their foundational trust."

Bartlet's Reassuring Kiss to Leo Before Surgery
S2E1 · In the Shadow of Two …

Part of Larger Arcs

Flashback power purge in Bartlet's nascent campaign, where Leo ruthlessly culls disloyal staff to enforce ideological purity around Toby Ziegler, resolving in Bartlet's ignited presidential resolve.

Key Dialogue

"LEO: Because I'm tired of it year after year after year after year having to chose between the lesser of who cares? Of trying to get myself excited about a candidate who can speak in complete sentences. Of setting the bar so low, I can hardly look at it. They say a good man can't get elected President. I don't believe that, do you?"
"BARTLET: And you think I'm that man. LEO: Yes."
"LEO: This is the time of Jed Bartlet, old friend. You're gonna open your mouth and lift houses off the ground. Whole houses, clear off the ground..."