Object
Situation Room military/intel briefing packet (for President Bartlet)
A slim, letter‑size packet of briefing pages — loose sheets with tight typed lines, a few soft creases at the corners and the faint thumb‑marks of hurried handling. In the Situation Room an aide presses the packet into Bartlet’s hands: the first exposed page lists divisions, carriers, troop counts and an intelligence timeline. Bartlet tightens his grip, thumbs the edge, and uses the physical packet as an immediate cue to pivot from incredulous questioning to command, issuing orders and directing the Crisis Task Force.
2 appearances
Purpose
To deliver time‑sensitive military and intelligence details and immediate talking points to the President and senior staff during Situation Room briefings.
Significance
Serves as the tangible bearer of escalation: the numbers and timelines on these pages convert an unseen invasion into a palpable crisis, catalyzing Bartlet’s rapid shift to crisis management, the diversion of assets, and the establishment of a hard decision clock.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used