The West Wing
S2E3
· The Midterms

CJ's Trauma Media Warning, Toby's Abrupt Shutdown

In Toby's office after their hallway clash, C.J. pivots from guns policy to flag media calls probing staffers' psychological aftermath of the assassination attempt, warning it's ethically risky and could derail midterm momentum. Toby nominally concurs—they're not the story—but dismisses her with a curt 'Leave me alone,' deepening their unresolved moral rift over exploiting trauma, underscoring C.J.'s ethical caution against Toby's raw aggression amid the sympathy surge.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

C.J. raises concerns about media coverage of staffers' psychological aftermath, and Toby agrees they shouldn't be the story.

concern to agreement

Toby dismissively tells C.J. to leave him alone, ending the scene on a note of unresolved tension.

agreement to tension

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

3
C.J. Cregg
primary

Principled concern laced with frustration, advocating restraint amid political frenzy

C.J. walks down the hallway arguing ethics, enters Toby's office, starts to exit but turns back to flag incoming media calls on staff trauma, probes Toby's view, agrees on his point, and departs when curtly dismissed.

Goals in this moment
  • • Discourage media focus on staff psychology to avoid ethical risks
  • • Steer Toby toward presidential buy-in over personal appeals
Active beliefs
  • • Exploiting trauma for policy is unseemly and backfires politically
  • • Staffers must stay out of the spotlight during national crises
Character traits
principled cautious ethical persistent
Follow C.J. Cregg's journey
Toby Ziegler
primary

Pissed off and impatient, raw aggression overriding alliance for policy crusade

Toby strides hallway pushing for C.J.'s support on aggressive policy, enters his office, clarifies her media concern psychologically, nominally agrees staff aren't the story, then dismisses her sharply with 'Leave me alone' to refocus.

Goals in this moment
  • • Secure space to advance hate groups and guns agenda uninterrupted
  • • Redirect energy to convincing the President on FBI coordination
Active beliefs
  • • Crisis moments demand bold action, not hand-wringing ethics
  • • Personal trauma pales against institutional threats like hate groups
Character traits
aggressive dismissive determined pragmatic
Follow Toby Ziegler's journey
Josiah Bartlet
primary

Referenced by C.J. as the key decision-maker Toby needs to convince on hate groups action.

Character traits
protective resolute self-aware principled
Follow Josiah Bartlet's journey

Organizations Involved

Institutional presence and influence

3
U.S. House of Representatives

The House emerges as midterm battleground C.J. cites Republicans defending, tying ethical restraint to electoral stasis; it contextualizes Toby's policy zeal as staff fixates on flips amid Bartlet's ambivalence.

Representation Cited as pivotal electoral prize in hallway pivot
Power Dynamics Institutional target vulnerable to sympathy-fueled Democratic pushback
Impact Crystallizes irony of unchanged power despite tragedy boost
Internal Dynamics Triage of vulnerable seats like liabilities
Resolve balance via 12-week races Withstand post-assassination momentum shift Incumbent defenses and resource allocation National political narrative control
Federal Bureau of Investigation

C.J. redirects Toby to convince the FBI for hate groups crackdown instead of her, framing their rift as she pivots in the office to media ethics; it embodies the law enforcement muscle Toby craves amid post-shooting fury.

Representation Referenced as key policy partner in hallway lead-in
Power Dynamics Positioned as essential ally Toby must court, beyond C.J.'s purview
Impact Highlights institutional silos requiring presidential intervention
Coordinate with White House on extremist threats Launch probes into hate groups post-assassination Investigative authority and resources Federal enforcement protocols
Republican Congressional Candidates

C.J. invokes Republicans' midterm House defense as rationale against unseemly exploitation, a warning echoing into Toby's office dismissal; they lurk as opportunistic foes ready to pounce on Democratic overreach.

Representation Invoked as political threat in ethical debate
Power Dynamics Adversarial force exploiting any administration misstep
Impact Underscores razor-edge congressional balance post-sympathy surge
Retain House control through midterm trench warfare Amplify Democratic 'vulture' narrative on tragedy Electoral campaigning and opposition attacks Media amplification of ethical lapses

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

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Key Dialogue

"C.J.: "I've gotten a lot of calls about pieces people want to do on how staffers are handling the shooting and the aftermath.""
"TOBY: "Psychologically?""
"C.J.: "Yeah. I don't think it's a good idea. Do you?""
"TOBY: "We're not the story.""
"C.J.: "That's what I'm saying.""
"TOBY: "Leave me alone.""