The West Wing
S2E8
· Shibboleth

Bartlet's Thanksgiving Proclamation and Refugees' Sanctuary

On Thanksgiving morning outside the White House, President Bartlet delivers a poignant proclamation of national gratitude and unity, accompanied by children's singing that evokes hope amid the refugee crisis. Simultaneously, the Chinese evangelical asylum seekers discreetly slip into safe sanctuary, resolving the tense standoff through Bartlet's clandestine mercy. White House staff disperses to celebrate, underscoring the triumph of humanitarian compassion over diplomatic retaliation and affirming Bartlet's moral leadership in a season of reflection.

Plot Beats

The narrative micro-steps within this event

2

Bartlet delivers his Thanksgiving proclamation, resonating with the refugees' quest for freedom as children sing 'We Gather Together.'

warmth to triumph ['Rose Garden']

The refugees vanish into sanctuary's embrace, faith triumphing over law's cold blade, and the staff scatters to pizza and pigskin.

triumph to camaraderie ['Rose Garden']

Who Was There

Characters present in this moment

4
Chinese Evangelical Asylum Seekers
primary

Relieved and profoundly grateful, emerging from persecution's fear

Discreetly slipping into safe sanctuary outside the White House amid Thanksgiving proceedings, their shadowed entry resolves the refugee standoff through presidential mercy as songs and proclamation unfold.

Goals in this moment
  • • Secure asylum and safety from Chinese persecution
  • • Blend seamlessly into sanctuary without detection
Active beliefs
  • • Faith provides deliverance through unlikely leaders
  • • America embodies refuge for the oppressed faithful
Character traits
vulnerable devout resilient
Follow Chinese Evangelical …'s journey
Josiah Edward 'Jed' Bartlet (President of the United States)
President of the United States
 primary

reflective

delivers a poignant proclamation of national gratitude and unity

Goals in this moment
  • • proclaim national gratitude and unity
  • • resolve refugee crisis through clandestine mercy
Character traits
politically pragmatic jocular policy‑driven paternal commands institutional authority relational — centers staff and family centralizing (commands staff attention and schedules) centralized authority figure strategically vital intelligent politically consequential (actions and associations create immediate risk) protocol-driven calculating principled in public rhetoric vulnerable emotionally forceful institutionally minded performative control of public optics candid principled politically vulnerable (per party strategists and press) strategic witty/jocular under pressure vulnerable-to-proxy-actions collegial poised decisive principled but electorally mindful resolute constitutional protective (paternal focus on family safety) deliberative ruthless burdened decisive when confronted with moral stakes authoritative/managerial paternal/protective regionally grounded politically strategic supportive traditional weary/resolute authoritative public-facing decisive in crisis loyal blunt protective politically consequential measured committed politically shrewd risk‑aware consequential self-aware witty institutional (symbolic center of staff effort) ceremonial
Follow Josiah Edward …'s journey
President's Staff (West Wing presidential aides collective)
President's Aides
 primary

Celebratory relief blended with moral fulfillment

Gathered outside the White House to witness the Thanksgiving proclamation, then dispersing into holiday celebration as refugee mercy unfolds, channeling triumph from tension to compassionate unity.

Goals in this moment
  • • Embody and support presidential moral leadership
  • • Transition from crisis duty to festive renewal
Active beliefs
  • • Humanitarian mercy defines true power
  • • Unity follows principled stands against retaliation
Character traits
loyal cohesive triumphant
Follow President's Staff …'s journey
Unnamed Children Inside House During Crisis
primary

Hopeful and exuberant, channeling national renewal

Singing soaring melodies outside the White House on Thanksgiving morning, their voices evoke raw hope, cradling the proclamation and masking the asylum seekers' stealthy sanctuary entry.

Goals in this moment
  • • Perform song amplifying themes of gratitude
  • • Inspire unity amid crisis resolution
Active beliefs
  • • Children's voices heal national divides
  • • Hope triumphs over diplomatic shadows
Character traits
innocent joyful unifying
Follow Unnamed Children …'s journey

Location Details

Places and their significance in this event

1
White House Mess (Staff Dining Room)

The White House stands as the symbolic stage for Thanksgiving morning's climactic resolution: site of Bartlet's unifying proclamation, children's hopeful song, asylum seekers' discreet sanctuary slip, and staff's dispersal—bridging public ritual with private mercy in epic power's heart.

Atmosphere Poignant festivity under dawn light, laced with relief and choral hope amid fading crisis hush
Function Public platform for proclamation and covert resolution site
Symbolism Beacon of moral leadership, pivoting from diplomatic brink to compassionate renewal
Access Public exterior for ceremony, discreet inner access for seekers
Thanksgiving morning sunlight Echoing children's songs Grand facade framing national catharsis

Narrative Connections

How this event relates to others in the story

What led here 6
Causal

"Jhin-Wei's genuine faith confirmation directly influences Bartlet's decision to orchestrate the refugees' escape."

Bartlet Pardons Troy and Lectures Morton on Public Education
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Causal

"Jhin-Wei's genuine faith confirmation directly influences Bartlet's decision to orchestrate the refugees' escape."

Bartlet Bestows Paul Revere Knife on Charlie
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Character Continuity medium

"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."

C.J. Interrupts Bartlet's Crisis Focus for Turkey Pardon
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Character Continuity medium

"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."

Charlie Presents Heirloom Carving Knife to Bartlet
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Character Continuity medium

"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."

Bartlet Devises 'Shibboleth' Test to Probe Refugee Faith
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Character Continuity medium

"C.J.'s involvement in the turkey pardon ceremony continues through her efforts to secure a second pardon for Troy."

C.J. Bursts In with Urgent Turkey Pardon Plea
S2E8 · Shibboleth
What this causes 2
Causal

"Jhin-Wei's genuine faith confirmation directly influences Bartlet's decision to orchestrate the refugees' escape."

Bartlet Pardons Troy and Lectures Morton on Public Education
S2E8 · Shibboleth
Causal

"Jhin-Wei's genuine faith confirmation directly influences Bartlet's decision to orchestrate the refugees' escape."

Bartlet Bestows Paul Revere Knife on Charlie
S2E8 · Shibboleth

Themes This Exemplifies

Thematic resonance and meaning

Discerning Authentic Desperation
12
INS agents expose Fujian smuggling rings coaching stowaways' asylum claims, prompting Sam's sympathetic outrage and quests for clarity on genuine peril versus exploitation; C.J. briefs …

Part of Larger Arcs

White House senior staff's desperate push for a lame-duck session to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty against mounting Senate defections and resistance from senators like Stensen, Marino, Mitchell, and labor-aligned figures, embodying a high-st...