Object

Bartlet's UAV Photographs of Black-Market Nuclear Trafficking

Photographs captured by the crashed U.S. reconnaissance UAV document movements of black-market nuclear materials. Bartlet pulls back the cover story and offers these images to Chigorin in the Oval Office, placing them on the table as tangible proof during tense negotiations with Leo, the translator, and Peter present. Chigorin eyes the photos skeptically as Bartlet positions them as a goodwill exchange over the drone's technology.

2 appearances

Purpose

Supply aerial evidence of illicit nuclear material transfers to negotiate drone incident resolution and counter proliferation threats.

Significance

These photos pivot the standoff from Russian accusations of spying to shared anti-trafficking interests, exposing Bartlet's calculated candor and easing conflict while risking escalation.

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

2 moments

S4E20 · Evidence of Things Not Seen

Kaliningrad Drone Standoff — Bartlet's Gambit

Photographs recovered from the UAV serve as the tangible bargaining chip: Bartlet offers to share these images of black‑market nuclear trafficking to reframe the dispute as mutual security interest rather than pure espionage.

Before: Contained within the crashed UAV's wreckage, in U.S. custody or being assessed by intelligence teams.

After: Promised as negotiable intelligence to the Russians (images to be shared if trust is established); physically not exchanged within the scene.

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S4E20 · Evidence of Things Not Seen

Pictures or Ashes — Bartlet Hangs Up

Bartlet invokes and offers the UAV photographs of black‑market nuclear trafficking as the central bargaining chip—proof of shared security interest. The pictures shift the argument from jurisdictional accusation to mutual threat mitigation and are promised (but not the means of collection).

Before: In the UAV wreckage (recovered or awaiting recovery); in U.S. custody or at least known to U.S. intelligence teams.

After: Designated to be shared with Russian counterparts as part of a negotiated, limited intelligence exchange (photos offered but technology withheld).

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