The West Wing

**The West Wing** is an American serial political drama television series created by American screenwriter, film director, and playwright, Aaron Sorkin, originally broadcast on the American television network, NBC from September 22, 1999.

## **Premise**

*The West Wing* is set primarily in the titular West Wing of the White House, where the Oval Office and offices of presidential senior staff are located, during the fictitious Democratic administration of Josiah Bartlet.

## **Cast**

### Main

* Martin Sheen as Josiah "Jed" Bartlet - The President of the United States. An economist by training, he is a former Congressman and Governor from New Hampshire who unexpectedly won the Democratic Party nomination.
* John Spencer as Leo McGarry - Bartlet's close personal friend and Chief of Staff. Following a heart attack, he becomes Counselor to the President, and later the Democratic Candidate for Vice President.
* Bradley Whitford as Josh Lyman - The Deputy Chief of Staff to Leo McGarry. Josh later leaves the White House to become the "Santos for President" campaign manager.
* Richard Schiff as Toby Ziegler - The Communications Director who wrote many of Bartlet's speeches, including both Inaugural Addresses and many State of the Union Addresses.
* Rob Lowe as Sam Seaborn - The Deputy Communications Director to Toby Ziegler. In his time at the White House, Sam is responsible for writing many of Bartlet's speeches.
* Allison Janney as C.J. Cregg - The Press Secretary. She succeeds Leo McGarry as Chief of Staff and departs the White House at the end of the Bartlet administration.
* Dulé Hill as Charlie Young - Originally the Personal Aide to the President and later a Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff.
* Janel Moloney as Donna Moss - The Senior Assistant to Josh Lyman. She later departs to be a spokesperson for the Russell campaign and then the Santos campaign.
* Stockard Channing as Abbey Bartlet is the First Lady, Jed's wife, and a physician.
* Moira Kelly as Mandy Hampton - Josh Lyman's ex-girlfriend and a media consultant contracted by the Bartlet administration.
* Will Bailey (Joshua Malina) is initially hired as a speechwriter and transitions into the role of Deputy Communications Director. He later becomes Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Russell's Campaign Manager, and Communications Director. After the series end he becomes a congressman for Oregon (regular: seasons 4–7).
* Kate Harper (Mary McCormack) is the Deputy National Security Advisor. Before the West Wing she was in the Navy, and CIA. (recurring: season 5; regular: seasons 6–7).
* Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) is a Congressman from Texas who is convinced by Josh Lyman to run for President. He eventually wins the nomination and later the election. (regular: seasons 6–7).
* Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) is a Senator from California who becomes the Republican nominee for President. After his loss in the general election, he is appointed Secretary of State by President-elect Santos (regular: seasons 6–7).
* Annabeth Schott (Kristin Chenoweth) is Deputy Press Secretary and later works on the Santos campaign. At the series end, she is appointed Press Secretary to the incoming First Lady (recurring: season 6; regular: season 7).