With the President temporarily out of commission with an injury, his chief of staff has to field some responsibilities. Elsewhere, Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn spends his night with a woman of the night.
Sam endangers his position on staff by continuing pursuit of a prostitute. CJ tries to spin a public disagreement between the President and Vice President. The President takes a liking to the fill-in physician. Mandy Hampton has a hard time getting her voice heard.
The President, upset over the loss of a jet filled with Americans, one-ups the Joint Chiefs plan for a "proportional response" to a large military strike that would cause numerous casualties, both military and civilian. The President's staff try to reshape his vision on the subject. CJ gives Sam an earful for his potentially hazardous liason with a prostitute.
The White House staff works to get the five crucial votes needed to pass a gun control bill. Leo's wife decides to call it quits. Toby's stock purchase in conjunction with a friend's testimony raises eyebrows.
The White House staff spends time with private organizations with odd ideas for government projects. Toby and the President disagree over a Presidential trip to California.
Toby and Mandy work to get a bill with a provision for the census passed.
A State Dinner with the Indonesian President is the backdrop for a flurry of White House activity as Bartlett balances formality with the responsibility of running the country as a natural disaster, a potential gun fight and a strike lurk in the shadows.
The President's banking bill hits a snag when rivals attach something that runs contrary to his environmentalist stance. Leo's daughter Mallory feels a romantic pulls towards Sam. CJ has romantic problems of her own with a reporter who is always looking for a story.
The President's opportunity to appoint a new Supreme Court Justice brings about a difficult decision when his first choice isn't as perfect as he'd hoped. A congressman accuses Bartlett's staff of drug use.
President Bartlet secrets himself out of the White House with some of his staff to do some Christmas shopping. Toby takes up the case of a homeless veteran's burial. Josh and Sam seek to outwit Lillienfield and go after Laurie's help.
President Bartlet turns to Lord John Marbury to help fix relations between India and Pakistan when it seems like they're on the brink of a nuclear war after India invades Pakistan territory. Josh is called on to testify about the White House staff's potential substance abuse. Charlie asks the President's permission to date his daughter.
Illness fells President Bartlett as a State of the Union address approaches. The India-Pakistan quarrel becomes all the more serious when Pakistan authorizes nuclear weapons.
The White House juggles a new study on sex education and the signing of a Hate Crimes bill. Josh has to face down the inquiry into the White House staff's possible substance abuse. CJ continues her flirtation with reporter Danny. Take out the trash day arrives when the Staff feeds the reporters all of their bad stories to try and bury them.
President Bartlet seeks the help of his childhood priest in deciding whether he should allow a murderer to be killed. A hearing-impaired campaign manager looks to the President for help when her candidate appears to be improperly funded for an upcoming election.
Sam and Toby have to secret the President's Supreme Court Candidate out of jail. Josh talks about his job in the White House as a college's guest speaker.
The President and some of his staff spend time in Los Angeles with a star-studded fundraiser as the featured event. Leo tries to get the Vice President's help in securing a Senate vote. Josh is excited to potentially see Joey Lucas again.
The President and the First Lady's staffs have to handle a conflict between their two missions. The conflict boils over into the new Federal Reserve appointment as the lead candidate is a former flame of the First Lady. Zoey and Charlie disagree over being able to appear in public together.
Police bust a college party that Zoey attended. CJ runs interference with the press. The Staff continues to work towards the Supreme Court appointment. Josh works with an attorney general nominee. Mandy works on getting pandas for the national zoo. Sam and Mallory argue the merits of private school vouchers.
A memo written by Mandy outlining President Bartlet's presidential drawbacks leaks to a member of the press and CJ does her best to stop it from going further. Sam and Toby try to mediate discussion on the Army's current "Don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuality. Leo's confrontation with the President could be the defining moment in his administration as Leo accuses the President of not going far enough.
Encouraged by Leo's display, The President throws caution to the wind and appoints two Democrats instead of splitting his appointments between the two parties. Joey Lucas re-enters the picture. Toby approaches his ex-wife about drug legislature.
The President looks forward to seeing his current poll results. Sam is photographed giving his prostitute friend a graduation present. CJ worries she's on Leo's bad side because of recent missteps. Josh and Joey disagree over politics.
The President balances a meeting with college students and spearheading a mission to rescue a US pilot stranded in Iraq. Toby tries to block out reports of a space mission in trouble which includes, in its numbers, his brother. Josh begrudgingly tries to bring the Vice President over to the President's side on campaign reform. The Staff comes under attack after the meeting with the college students by what appears to be a skinhead faction.