Leo Drops the 'Bartlet for America' Napkin Bombshell
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Mrs. Landingham directs Bartlet's attention to Leo McGarry, who has arrived unannounced.
Leo and Bartlet engage in cryptic banter about his unannounced visit before Leo reveals his intent to get Bartlet to run for president.
Leo sticks a napkin with the slogan 'Bartlet for America' onto the tourism proposal, signaling his serious commitment to Bartlet's presidential campaign.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Amused skepticism turning to intrigued surprise
Bartlet interrupts the pitch with historical facts and jokes about goggles, dismisses Allen and Alan sharply, banters sarcastically with Landingham about dinner at Patsy's, questions Leo's cryptic arrival and motives, reacts to the napkin reveal that shifts his skepticism.
- • Manage schedule efficiently
- • Gauge Leo's unannounced purpose
- • Half-baked pitches waste time
- • Leo warrants personal attention
Anxious and uncertain in presentation
Alan assists Allen in the unsure pitch, emphasizing the need for 'fresh and new' image while detailing print ads for fall foliage and revenue stemming, faltering under Bartlet's sarcasm before shared dismissal.
- • Support colleague's slogan pitch
- • Advocate for tourism initiatives
- • Innovation essential for revenue growth
- • Slogan captures state charm
Evasive calm veiling fervent determination
Leo paces outside unseen initially, enters reading the slogan mockingly, banters evasively about leaves, daughters, Marriott stay, and his daze, then dramatically licks a napkin scribbled 'Bartlet for America' and sticks it on the posterboard, pitching Bartlet for president.
- • Build intrigue without premature reveal
- • Persuade Bartlet to launch presidential bid
- • Bartlet destined for White House
- • Personal history won't derail true leadership
Playfully sarcastic with underlying efficiency
Mrs. Landingham enters post-dismissal, trades sharp witty banter with Bartlet on his humor, confirms Patsy's dinner, alerts him to Leo's arrival, offers to fetch Leo in a civilized manner amid the exchange.
- • Maintain schedule flow
- • Facilitate Leo's unscheduled meeting
- • Bartlet's humor needs sharpening
- • Protocol enhances civility
Unsure and deflated under scrutiny
Allen stands deflated after unveiling the posterboard with the slogan 'New Hampshire. It's what's new!', awkwardly defending tourism strategies like foliage ads and snowmobiling revenue amid Bartlet's joking interruptions, exiting after dismissal.
- • Convince Bartlet of the slogan's merit
- • Promote tourism revenue strategies
- • Fresh branding counters outdated perceptions
- • Aggressive ads will boost state economy
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The posterboard, initially unveiled by Allen bearing the tourism slogan 'New Hampshire. It's what's new!' with scribbles, is repurposed narratively when Leo licks and affixes his 'Bartlet for America' napkin to it, transforming a failed pitch prop into the symbolic origin of a presidential campaign.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The Governor's Office hosts the inept tourism pitch dismissal, Landingham's banter, and Leo's dramatic entrance and napkin reveal, its oak desk and historical portraits framing the intimate pivot from state slogan to national ambition in sunlight-filled tension.
The Marriott is referenced by Leo as his lodging during his surprise visit, underscoring his impulsive travel for the epiphany reveal and adding to the cryptic buildup of his unannounced presence.
Patsy's is casually invoked by Bartlet in banter with Landingham as the evening dinner spot with Abbey, providing a light personal anchor amid the intensifying political revelation.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The Office of Travel and Tourism is actively represented through Allen and Alan's pitch of print ads for foliage tours, snowmobiling campaigns, and the 'New Hampshire. It's what's new!' slogan, setting the stage for dismissal and ironic repurposing by Leo's campaign napkin.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"The 'Bartlet for America' napkin from the early campaign is callback when Bartlet gifts it to Leo framed."
Key Dialogue
"LEO: "I've been thinking about getting back into politics.""
"BARTLET: "Hey, Leo, I swear to God there's no one I'd rather see in the Oval Office than you but if you run there's going to be a lot of discussion about Valium and Alcohol.""
"LEO: "Yeah. See, I wasn't thinking about me.""
"LEO: "I've been walking around in a kind of daze for two weeks and everywhere I go...planes, trains, restaurants, meetings...I find myself scribbling something down." BARTLET: "What?""