Bartlet's Coat

A man's hands lift Bartlet's coat in the President's bedroom gloom, sliding it over his shoulders with practiced efficiency as Charlie fidgets in his new frock, the fabric settling like a mantle of authority. Bartlet's eyes sparkle with Wilson-era pride, the coat crowning his lecture on regal protocol just as the Secret Service agent barks departure, thrusting leader and aide into the night's churning turmoil.