Bartlet's Chinese Refugee Crisis Papers

Bartlet looms over Resolute Desk, pen carving urgent strokes across dense sheets crammed with Chinese refugee data—evangelical asylum pleas, INS repatriation flags, Beijing's diplomatic barbs. Fingers grip edges as C.J. bursts in with turkey absurdity, Josh and Sam hover mid-brief; he snaps back, ink bleeding under crisis pressure while Oval air crackles with divided duties.

3 appearances

Purpose

Administrative processing of Chinese refugee crisis details, including faith verification and diplomatic responses

Significance

Bartlet's anchor amid frenzy—embodies moral weight of asylum decisions clashing against presidential pageantry, humanizing his genius under interruption's whip

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

3 moments

S2E8 · Shibboleth

C.J. Interrupts Bartlet's Crisis Focus for Turkey Pardon

Bartlet's Chinese Refugee Crisis Papers dominate his focus at the Resolute Desk, where he stands over them writing intently before C.J.'s entry jolts him; they anchor the scene's tension, symbolizing the evangelical asylum dilemma, INS skepticism, and Beijing pressures that reclaim his attention post-interruption, underscoring divided presidential priorities.

Before: Spread on Resolute Desk, actively reviewed and annotated by Bartlet

After: Unchanged on desk, Bartlet immediately resumes scrutiny and writing

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S2E8 · Shibboleth

Charlie Presents Heirloom Carving Knife to Bartlet

Bartlet stands over the Resolute Desk intensely reviewing and annotating these papers on Chinese refugee asylum pleas, INS flags, and Beijing pressures; he briefly sets aside focus as C.J. exits and Charlie presents the knife, underscoring tension between urgent duty and human respite.

Before: Spread across Resolute Desk, actively being written on by Bartlet

After: Momentarily unattended on desk as Bartlet rounds to admire knife

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S2E8 · Shibboleth

Bartlet Devises 'Shibboleth' Test to Probe Refugee Faith

Bartlet's Chinese Refugee Crisis Papers anchor the Oval desk as the President stands over them, reviewing and annotating amid interruptions from knife gift and briefings; they symbolize the administrative weight of asylum data, Beijing barbs, and INS flags, grounding intellectual crisis in tangible bureaucracy before shibboleth pivot elevates to personal test.

Before: Spread on Resolute Desk, under presidential review and inscription

After: Abandoned on desk amid verbal command escalation

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