Op-Ed Columnist Two Presidents, Smoking and Scheming Published: October 6, 2012 AFTER the debate, I was talking to Aaron Sorkin, who was a little down. Or, as he put it, "nonverbal, shouting incoherently at a squirrel, angrier than when the Jets lost to the 49ers last Sunday without ever really being on the field." Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times Related in Opinion Istvan Banyai Aaron was mollified when he learned that President Obama, realizing things were dire, privately sought the counsel of a former Democratic president known for throwing down in debates. I asked Aaron if he knew how the conversation between the two presidents had gone and, as it happened, he did. This is his account.  The lights from the presidential motorcade illuminate a New Hampshire farmhouse at night in the sprawling New England landscape. JED BARTLET steps out onto his porch as the motorcade slows to a stop. BARTLET (calling out) Don't even get out of the car! BARACK OBAMA (opening the door of his limo) Five minutes, that's all I want. BARTLET Were you sleepy? OBAMA Jed --  BARTLET Was that the problem? Had you just taken allergy medication? General anesthesia? OBAMA I had an off night. BARTLET What makes you say that? The fact that the Cheesecake Factory is preparing an ad campaign boasting that it served Romney his pre-debate meal? Law school graduates all over America are preparing to take the bar exam by going to the freakin' Cheesecake Factory! BARTLET Start again.