1. Judge Mendoza, I'm nominating you...
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2. to be the next associate justice
of the Supreme Court.
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3. I'm Sam Seaborn,
deputy communications director.
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4. Josh Lyman,
deputy chief of staff.
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5. Jed Bartlet.
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6. - Charles.
- Prefer Charlie?
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7. - Zoey?
- If I call you Charlie.
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8. - We've met. McGarry, chief of staff.
- I thought you were the butler.
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9. McGarry's chief of staff.
I'm your host, C.J.
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10. - I'm Ziegler.
- From the White House.
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11. Welcome to the third installment
of this year's Dupont Lecture Series.
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12. I see by the turnout,
you're excited to meet our guest...
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13. - What?
- He was arrested.
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14. - For what?
- Drunk driving and disorderly conduct.
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15. - You think?
- It's 30 minutes old. We don't know.
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16. - What do we know?
- He doesn't drink.
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17. - He was arrested for it.
- Mendoza doesn't drink.
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18. - And the press?
- They know nothing.
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19. - Cops haven't leaked it?
- They don't know.
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20. - That they've arrested him?
- That it's that Mendoza.
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21. I got this thing now.
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22. I got a cab.
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23. The White House.
I'll let you know.
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24. Stay ahead of the pitch.
Have Toby page me.
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25. We don't even know if this guy's
called a lawyer. Is he in a jail cell?
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26. You're not there anymore, are you?
I'm talking to no one at all.
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27. where he worked as manager
for the minority whip...
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28. and chief of staff
for Congressman Brennan.
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29. After serving as senior political
director for Bartlet's campaign...
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30. he was appointed
deputy chief of staff.
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31. Please welcome Joshua Lyman.
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32. Thank you very much.
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33. - Nice to see you.
- Good to see you.
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34. - Just slip that mike on, there.
- Let's see here...
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35. Tell us what it's like
to work for the president.
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36. I'll do my best.
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37. - What happened?
- It's not bad.
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38. - Was the president's nominee arrested?
- Yes.
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39. - I thought he doesn't drink.
- He doesn't drink.
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40. - He was tonight.
- We vetted him. He doesn't drink.
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41. Yes.
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42. - Where was it?
- Connecticut.
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43. - Why refuse the Breathalyzer?
- He's crazy and out to ruin my life.
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44. - Anyone posted bail?
- No. Can't find a judge.
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45. - Why not?
- It's Friday night in Connecticut.
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46. Believe me, I'll figure a way
to blame this on you.
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47. - I have no doubt.
- Find his lawyer and talk to him.
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48. Sam, there's an Air Force Lear jet.
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49. Fly to Westchester Airport,
rent a car...
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50. and get the next associate justice
out of jail.
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51. C.J., Sam sees one reporter when he
gets off that plane, I blame you.
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52. - Toby's got that.
- I'm going.
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53. The judge and I will
have a conversation.
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54. I want a call every 15 minutes.
I wanna know what's going on.
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55. Tell us about a typical day
at the White House.
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56. The first thing I'll tell you
is, there's no such thing.
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57. There's a schedule and there's
a structure, to be sure.
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58. And, to a certain extent,
it starts out as a nine-to-five job.
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59. But you can count on it
being blown to hell by 9:30.
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60. Give us an example.
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61. I'll give you an example
from this week.
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62. The story I'm about to tell you
all happened within the last 36 hours.
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63. Anyone who's been reading
the papers...
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64. has been following what we call
"the news cycle that wouldn't end. "
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65. It started either with a
cabinet secretary losing her temper...
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66. a committee chairman baiting her...
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67. the president answering a question
he shouldn't have...
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68. a dentist appointment,
or me being stupid.
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69. For the record, I don't think
it was as much my fault...
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70. as other people do.
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71. It started out as a day
to trumpet the president's vision...
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72. for education reform.
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73. - Give me the bullet points.
- I understand this.
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74. - I have confidence in you.
- Thanks.
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75. - Give him the points.
- I'm bathed in your confidence too.
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76. Forgive student loans
to new teachers...
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77. who spend three years teaching
in inner-city schools.
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78. Bonuses to people who leave
careers to become teachers.
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79. Federal grants to schools
to use more experienced teachers...
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80. to train the less experienced.
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81. - Half the new teachers quit in 3 years.
- Right here on my index card.
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82. - Very good, then.
- Toby. Got a minute?
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83. Thank you both.
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84. - Know what? What time's your briefing?
00.
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85. - Push it to 1:00.
- I thought about that.
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86. Do it after the bill.
Let this be the story.
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87. - Move it to 1:00.
- You can't. You have the thing.
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88. - A perfect excuse to postpone.
- You don't want to.
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89. - A "thing"?
- Dentist appointment.
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90. - What's wrong?
- Nothing. I'm experiencing pain.
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91. - For how long?
- A month. It'll go away.
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92. - When?
- When I die.
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93. Carol, cancel it.
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94. Set the briefing for 2:00,
keep the appointment.
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95. Teeth are your friends.
Care for them, they'll care for you.
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96. - When did this talk start?
- I'm nuts for dental hygiene.
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97. - Go away now.
- Okay.
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98. - She called him a racist.
- She didn't.
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99. - What did she say?
- Well, yes, she did.
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100. Bonnie, Ginger,
I want anything on the wire...
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101. about the HUD secretary
calling Wooden a racist.
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102. You want it now?
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103. No, I want it
at whatever leisurely pace...
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104. - I'm just asking.
- I want it now.
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105. On C-SPAN, she called him a racist?
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106. Not just Wooden.
She included all Republicans.
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107. - Why be good-humored?
- She was baited.
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108. - So?
- She was baited and she was right.
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109. - Did you know Deborah O'Leary...
- Is that a wire story?
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110. "Wooden's problems with public housing
drew an angry response from O'Leary. "
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111. And here's what she said:
"Public housing has serious problems.
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112. But if you and the Republicans
were as invested in solving them...
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113. as in scoring political points
on the backs of minorities...
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114. you might see the value. "
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115. - "You calling me a racist?"
- "Of course not," she answered?
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116. - "If the shoe fits," she responded.
- Well, wasn't that clever of her?
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117. Donald Morales, the spokesman
for Housing and Urban Development...
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118. who's wishing he hadn't
gotten out of bed that morning...
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119. confirms what happened.
Now there's telling the president.
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120. - "If the shoe fits"?
- It gets worse, actually.
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121. "When reporters confronted O'Leary,
she defended... "
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122. - Come on!
- Don't worry, I'll take care of it.
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123. - She on her way?
- She'll be here in half an hour.
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124. Mr. President?
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125. "If the shoe fits. "
Is that the best she could do?
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126. Of her many transgressions,
let's not worry about the cliche.
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127. Ladies and gentlemen,
the president of the United States.
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128. The president spoke briefly.
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129. The president has never spoken
briefly in his life, but...
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130. He spoke, signed the bill,
gave away the pens...
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131. then he took a few questions
from the press.
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132. It should be pointed out that
according to every poll...
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133. the issue that concerns
Americans most is education.
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134. The president had just signed off
on $700 million for education...
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135. and announced a plan
of aggressive initiatives.
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136. What was the first question?
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137. Do you agree with O'Leary
that Wooden's a racist?
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138. - If not, will you ask her to resign?
- I have great confidence in O'Leary.
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139. She's done a terrific job
at HUD helping thousands...
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140. transition from joblessness
and homelessness to productive lives.
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141. You didn't answer the question.
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142. - I was hoping you wouldn't notice.
- I did, sir.
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143. I agree the Republican Party doesn't
have a comprehensive program...
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144. for combating poverty.
But there are countless Republicans...
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145. working to change
their party's legacy.
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146. I hope to be working with them.
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147. I'm sure that was an answer
to some question. Just not mine.
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148. If only we'd stopped it there.
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149. If only we'd said, "The president
can't take any questions now. "
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150. Or, "We'll cover this in the briefing. "
Or, "The building is on fire. "
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151. But it took us all a moment
to realize...
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152. there was no press secretary
in the room.
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153. She went too far in assigning
motive to Wooden and the Republicans.
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154. - Will you speak to her?
- She'll meet McGarry.
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155. - Will he ask her to apologize?
- It'd be appropriate.
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156. - Get him off.
- Sam.
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157. We'll cover this in the briefing.
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158. The president's late
for the UN ambassador.
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159. Thank you, everyone.
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160. - That went pretty well.
- We'll fix it.
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161. - The UN ambassador is in Portugal.
- Okay. My bad.
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162. Eight words: "The president's
not taking any questions right now. "
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163. If we'd just stepped in
30 seconds sooner.
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164. That's me.
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165. I'm sorry. There's a thing.
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166. I have to answer this now.
This will just take a second.
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167. This is weird, I know...
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168. but, anyway...
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169. - It's me.
- Are you there?
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170. - We're lost.
- Lost?
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171. - We're not.
- What exit do we want for Wesley?
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172. - We missed the exit.
- We didn't.
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173. I'm in the middle of something.
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174. - Just tell me...
- Call me when you know something.
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175. Sorry about that.
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176. - Can you tell us what that was about?
- The trade deficit. Where was I?
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177. - If you'd gotten there sooner.
- The day would've gone differently.
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178. The president said
O'Leary should apologize.
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179. The press wanted to know
if she'd be fired if she didn't.
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180. We didn't have an answer.
She was coming for a showdown.
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181. This is what the day was about now.
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182. The day was about to get worse, because
I was about to step to the plate.
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183. This is wrong.
We're supposed to go east.
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184. - We're going east.
- How do you know?
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185. - The sun rises in the east.
- It's dark out.
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186. That bright star in the sky
is Polaris.
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187. - So?
- I'm using celestial navigation.
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188. Galileo, get off the next exit
and turn around.
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189. Secretary O'Leary was told that
Leo McGarry wanted to see her.
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190. No question she'd be angry about
the president asking her to apologize.
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191. But at the moment,
that was Leo's problem.
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192. - I can't believe it.
- You're pissed at us?
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193. How could he demand an apology
without hearing my side?
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194. We blew the press event
but I got a video of your side.
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195. - The man's a racist.
- Maybe.
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196. He uses his authority to spit
at the poor and minorities.
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197. He's doing it to score points
with his narrow-minded constituents.
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198. His narrow-minded constituents
are also ours.
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199. When are you guys gonna stop
running for president?
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200. When angels dance on pinheads.
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201. We need their votes for many issues,
including the budget for HUD.
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202. - Attacking HUD is attacking blacks.
- Thanks. Having been born yesterday.
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203. Don't you think it's my role as
the highest-ranking African-American...
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204. I think your role, first and foremost,
is to serve the president.
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205. A task today at which
you failed spectacularly.
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206. - Leo...
- You're gonna apologize.
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207. - I'm sorry.
- Not to me.
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208. - I called it like I saw it.
- Now you'll apologize for it.
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209. - I can't.
- You can.
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210. - I won't.
- You will.
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211. Is that an order?
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212. You're doing great work.
The president's nuts about you.
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213. He'll cry for three minutes
after he fires your ass...
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214. then he'll say, "What's next?"
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215. Leo, if I've gotta go
and ask Wooden for forgiveness...
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216. he'll lord it over me
until the end of time.
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217. It's the cost of doing business.
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218. Done.
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219. He's been provoking you for months.
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220. When you give in to him,
you surrender the high ground.
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221. How did it happen?
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222. You forgot what your grandfather
taught you.
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223. - "Never argue with a drunk or a fool. "
- Is the president very angry with me?
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224. He's upset you couldn't come up...
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225. with anything better than
"If the shoe fits. "
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226. - Good luck.
- Thank you.
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227. So that should have been it.
C.J. does the 2:00 briefing...
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228. tells them O'Leary
has an apology...
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229. all questions will be handled
by her spokesperson, Donald Morales...
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230. and redirects their attention
to the $700 million of yours...
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231. that we spent on teachers.
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232. Who here has had emergency root canal?
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233. - What the hell happened?
- I had root canal.
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234. - What happened to your cheeks?
- I had root canal.
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235. - Why are you talking like that?
- I had root canal!
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236. - I heard you. I was amusing myself.
- You can do other things with yourself.
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237. - Are you in pain?
- I had root canal!
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238. Stop saying that.
You sound ridiculous.
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239. - I have to cancel the briefing.
- You can't.
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240. - Look at me!
- You'll be great.
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241. I can't do it.
I can't even say "briefing. "
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242. You gotta wrap up O'Leary and
move them back to the bill signing.
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243. - Did you say my name?
- You really think I can do it?
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244. Don't be insane. You can't do it
looking like Bullwinkle.
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245. Again, you were just
having a little fun.
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246. - When can you take the cotton out?
- Two hours. I'll cancel.
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247. - We're still doing it.
- Who?
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248. - Me.
- No way. You get hostile.
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249. I get hot stuff?
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250. Hostile! You get hostile!
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251. I don't. I get hostile
when the hostility is called for.
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252. Let Sam do it.
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253. - He's in Foggy Bottom.
- Why's he in Foggy Bottom?
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254. I just wanted to make you say
"Foggy Bottom. " He's with the writers.
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255. - Toby?
- Toby's with the president.
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256. This is Josh coming at you
with your 2:00 briefing.
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257. Please, be very careful.
Try very hard not to destroy us.
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258. You shouldn't say that.
You got a great body.
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259. Here we go!
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260. Please take your seats.
We'll start the briefing.
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261. - You're not gonna do this.
- I talk to reporters all the time.
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262. You really don't wanna do this.
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263. Let me tell you something, mi
compadre. You guys have been coddled.
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264. I'm not your girlfriend
or your camp counselor...
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265. or your sixth-grade teacher.
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266. I'm a graduate of Harvard and Yale.
My powers of debate can rise to meet...
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267. the Socratic wonder
that is the White House press corps.
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268. Okey-dokey.
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269. Good afternoon.
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270. C.J. had an emergency,
so I'll handle the briefing.
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271. In my defense, first of all,
everything was fine.
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272. I dispensed of the O'Leary
matter with ease and poise.
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273. I opened to questions with a discipline
lacking in C.J.'s briefings.
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274. I'll take one question apiece.
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275. - Josh.
- Mike.
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276. When's the last time
the president had a cigarette?
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277. You want yours to be that stupid?
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278. - It's not stupid.
- Oh, my God.
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279. If the president
is adamantly anti-tobacco...
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280. why is it unreasonable
to ask if he smokes?
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281. He quit years ago.
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282. He bummed a cigarette from me
on Air Force One two days ago.
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283. Oh, my God.
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284. Well, then... Jonathan.
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285. - So you won't answer Katie's question?
- I'll look into it. Danny.
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286. Economists worry the drop
in unemployment...
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287. will create pressure on wages,
driving them up.
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288. Is the president worried
about a resurgence of inflation?
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289. The president is pleased...
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290. that unemployment has dropped
another 0.5 percent...
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291. We join him in his joy. I'm wondering
if he has a plan to fight inflation.
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292. He will maintain the robust economy
that has created jobs...
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293. improved productivity,
and kept a lid on inflation.
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294. But he has no plan
to address inflation specifically?
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295. Twenty-four Ph.D.s on a council of
economic advisors? They have a plan.
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296. Are you not telling
because it's a secret?
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297. Yeah, we have a secret plan.
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298. I guess that's pretty much
when the wheels came off the wagon.
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299. Now is a good time to break.
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300. Let's stretch our legs
for five minutes.
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301. Sign-up sheets for 202
are in the lobby.
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302. If you smoke, apparently you can
bum a cigarette on Air Force One.
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303. Let's have a hand
for our guest, Joshua Lyman.
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304. - You're great.
- Thanks.
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305. - What's going on?
- Sam feels we're zeroing in on it.
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306. You haven't found it yet?
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307. We've been navigating
by the North Star...
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308. which turned out to be
the Delta shuttle.
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309. How hard is it
to find the police station?
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310. I don't know. Can you tell me about
the secret plan to fight inflation?
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311. - How long before you let up on that?
- A little while.
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312. Call when you know something.
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313. There's a store. I'll ask where
the Wesley police station is.
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314. Or you can pull in there,
at the police station, and ask.
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315. - Look! We found it.
- Let's get this done and get out.
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316. Good evening.
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317. Good evening.
Copy !req
318. Sam Seaborn. I work for the president.
Is your watch commander around?
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319. - Is this a joke?
- No.
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320. You walk in and tell me that?
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321. We're in trouble. The good thing is,
you're in more trouble than we are.
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322. The sooner you realize I'm telling
the truth, the better off we'll be.
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323. Why don't you get
your watch commander?
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324. If we'd stayed on the parkway
instead of going east...
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325. I don't think we'd have wound up
in Bridgeport so many times.
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326. - Shut up.
- I'm Sgt. McNamara. Can I help you?
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327. I'm the deputy communications director.
That's my boss, Toby Ziegler.
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328. - I'm in no mood for a joke.
- I understand.
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329. You have Roberto Mendoza
locked up back there.
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330. State your business here, or leave.
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331. I'm telling you to unlock the cell
and give me Mendoza.
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332. You come in here at 10:00 at night,
tell me you're with the White House...
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333. You've arrested a federal judge...
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334. who's the president's nominee
for the U.S. Supreme Court.
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335. You should get that.
That's the governor of Connecticut.
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336. Danny had thrown me a knuckle ball,
which then I had taken a swing at...
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337. and, just like that, the president
had a secret plan to fight inflation.
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338. When will the president
unveil his secret plan?
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339. There is no secret plan.
I was kidding.
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340. These are people's jobs.
You wanna give us a straight answer?
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341. I can't remember the question.
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342. Given the reduction in unemployment,
is there a plan to fight inflation?
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343. And if so, why is he
keeping it a secret?
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344. Oh, my God. I mean, oh, my God!
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345. - I can fix this.
- I don't think so.
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346. This is a great time for support.
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347. - You have my support.
- That's a start. What should I do?
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348. Come up with a secret plan
to fight inflation.
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349. - That's support?
- Joshua!
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350. - That's the face I wanted to see.
- What the hell happened in there?
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351. You completely imploded!
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352. - What'd I do?
- You completely imploded.
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353. - You were vague, hostile, belligerent.
- Belligerent.
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354. - Know what it'll take to fix this?
- I'll fix this.
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355. You're never allowed in my press room.
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356. - See if Toby was watching.
- Where is he?
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357. Never mind.
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358. - Just support me on this.
- No!
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359. Have you fallen and hit your head?
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360. - I feel really bad.
- You do?
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361. That's all that matters.
That was some good television.
Copy !req
362. Four network news directors
will agree.
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363. This isn't as bad
as you're making it seem.
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364. A secret plan to fight inflation?
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365. C.J., for a little while
you'll have to write it down.
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366. - We have a problem.
- No kidding.
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367. - Not Josh.
- Praise God.
Copy !req
368. Calling a question stupid
is not a page out of Carnegie.
Copy !req
369. - What's wrong?
- You won't like it.
Copy !req
370. The only thing that could make my day
worse is if Mendoza got involved.
Copy !req
371. Roberto Mendoza is the president's
nominee for the Supreme Court.
Copy !req
372. The president put Toby in charge of
his confirmation. Huge responsibility.
Copy !req
373. A failed confirmation for the Court
is a body blow to a presidency.
Copy !req
374. Besides, he's a brilliant jurist,
and we badly want him on the bench.
Copy !req
375. The confirmation process is tough.
You gotta make a lot of friends.
Copy !req
376. Nominees don't speak
before their confirmation.
Copy !req
377. They let the White House
speak for them.
Copy !req
378. Something Toby's had trouble
teaching Mendoza.
Copy !req
379. He said the president was wrong?
Copy !req
380. He said he was wrong
to make O'Leary apologize.
Copy !req
381. - C.J.
- Sam, tell him.
Copy !req
382. He said he was wrong
to make O'Leary apologize.
Copy !req
383. - To who?
- To Wooden.
Copy !req
384. - Who did he say it to?
- Chicago Tribune.
Copy !req
385. I thought he's on vacation
in Nova Scotia.
Copy !req
386. - He is.
- They called him in Nova Scotia?
Copy !req
387. How did they find him?
Copy !req
388. They have telephones in Nova Scotia.
It's not Amish country.
Copy !req
389. Of all the people in this building,
you want to be the last to speak now.
Copy !req
390. You bet.
Copy !req
391. The president needs to be briefed.
Copy !req
392. If you use the words
"pwesident" or "bwiefed" again...
Copy !req
393. The president's in New Orleans
in an hour.
Copy !req
394. No press at the conference.
When he's done, he comes home.
Copy !req
395. He'll be in the residence by 3:30 a.m.
Copy !req
396. Can I say something?
Copy !req
397. What?
Copy !req
398. A lot of this is our fault, and
the president won't take this well.
Copy !req
399. We'll be there with you
in spirit tomorrow.
Copy !req
400. You'll be there with me
in every way imaginable.
Copy !req
401. - You bet.
- 7 a.m.
Copy !req
402. This is not the first time
this had happened.
Copy !req
403. In the eight weeks since
he was named the nominee...
Copy !req
404. Mendoza has, on various
occasions, publicly criticized...
Copy !req
405. the American Bar Association, the
AFL-CIO and the NY state legislature.
Copy !req
406. Groups, without which, this
president wouldn't have been elected.
Copy !req
407. Putting out the O'Leary fire
had been our only success.
Copy !req
408. Now Judge Mendoza had
started up again.
Copy !req
409. I'm really very sorry,
but I have to take this.
Copy !req
410. - Yeah.
- Josh.
Copy !req
411. - Yeah.
- We're in.
Copy !req
412. - Where is he?
- With Toby.
Copy !req
413. Hello, Mr. Justice.
Copy !req
414. How are you?
Copy !req
415. Incarcerated, Toby. How are you?
Copy !req
416. - Do you need anything?
- No.
Copy !req
417. The judge and I are gonna have a chat.
Copy !req
418. The hardest job in the White House
is president.
Copy !req
419. The second-hardest job
is not chief of staff...
Copy !req
420. national security advisor,
or press secretary.
Copy !req
421. Although, I'm gaining respect
for press secretaries.
Copy !req
422. The second-hardest job belongs to a
21-year-old kid named Charlie Young.
Copy !req
423. He's the president's body man,
his aide.
Copy !req
424. He's with him morning to night.
He has a range of responsibilities.
Copy !req
425. But the one he hates most is this:
Copy !req
426. Sometimes, it's his job to wake
the president in the morning.
Copy !req
427. On this morning, the president
had gone to sleep three hours earlier.
Copy !req
428. - White House. Operator Four.
- Good morning, Helen.
Copy !req
429. - How was New Orleans?
- He did well.
Copy !req
430. - You been to sleep since yesterday?
- Good one.
Copy !req
431. - Time for his wake-up call.
- Let me put you through.
Copy !req
432. - What?
- Good morning. It's Charlie. I hope...
Copy !req
433. What could you possibly
want right now?
Copy !req
434. - Sir, it's 6:30 a.m. and...
- In the morning?
Copy !req
435. Yes. I wanted to remind you...
Copy !req
436. What in the name of everything holy
could you want now?
Copy !req
437. You have a 7 a.m. meeting
with the senior staff...
Copy !req
438. followed by
intelligence briefings...
Copy !req
439. and a meeting with the chairman
of the Fed. Would you like coffee?
Copy !req
440. - Who the hell is this?
- Sir.
Copy !req
441. And what could you possibly want?
Copy !req
442. Sir, I need you to dig in now.
It wasn't a nightmare.
Copy !req
443. - You really are the president.
- All right.
Copy !req
444. - I'll have the steward bring coffee.
- I'll get up now.
Copy !req
445. Mendoza was summoned
to the White House from Nova Scotia.
Copy !req
446. When you summon someone,
you expect them within the hour.
Copy !req
447. Mendoza told us
he'd see us in three days.
Copy !req
448. Why three days?
He was driving down to D.C...
Copy !req
449. stopping in Connecticut
to do some antiquing.
Copy !req
450. Another thing to tell the president,
who still hadn't awoken.
Copy !req
451. - Charlie.
- Oh, come on.
Copy !req
452. I've been knocking.
I don't hear the shower running.
Copy !req
453. Thanks, Billy.
Give me a minute, would you?
Copy !req
454. Mr. President.
Copy !req
455. Are you aware
you're committing a federal crime?
Copy !req
456. I'll take my chances with the feds.
It's 7:00.
Copy !req
457. How did you know
the first lady wasn't naked?
Copy !req
458. - Come to think of it, where is she?
- Argentina.
Copy !req
459. That's right.
Copy !req
460. Senior staff in the Oval Office.
Copy !req
461. So I'll stand here while you get
out of bed, shower and get dressed.
Copy !req
462. All right.
Copy !req
463. - Have you slept yet?
- No, sir.
Copy !req
464. Good.
Copy !req
465. How's your mouth?
Copy !req
466. Well, the swelling's gone down.
Copy !req
467. On the other hand,
the painkillers wore off.
Copy !req
468. He's driving from Nova Scotia
to Washington?
Copy !req
469. How's a person do that?
Copy !req
470. Take the Trans-Canada Highway
to New Brunswick...
Copy !req
471. catch the 1,
the scenic route along Maine...
Copy !req
472. 95 through to the Mass Pike...
Copy !req
473. then the Merritt Parkway
around Milford.
Copy !req
474. There's something freakish about you.
Copy !req
475. I'm tired, cranky and my wife's in
Argentina. Let's get this over with.
Copy !req
476. What?
Copy !req
477. Mr. President, we experienced a few
public relations... What's the word?
Copy !req
478. Catastrophes.
Copy !req
479. - Incidents in the hours you were away.
- What kind of incidents?
Copy !req
480. First, the incident involving O'Leary
and Wooden has been dispensed with.
Copy !req
481. Though not really.
I'll get to that at the end.
Copy !req
482. Sam asked C.J. to move the briefing
so we could fold in the teachers.
Copy !req
483. C.J. had emergency root-canal surgery
and was unable to brief.
Copy !req
484. - Who did?
- I did.
Copy !req
485. Oh, God.
Copy !req
486. You're going to be reading today about
your secret plan to fight inflation.
Copy !req
487. - I have a secret plan for inflation?
- No.
Copy !req
488. Why am I gonna be reading that I do?
Copy !req
489. It was suggested in the press room
that you did.
Copy !req
490. - By who?
- By me.
Copy !req
491. You told the press
I have a secret plan?
Copy !req
492. Let me be absolutely clear:
I did not do that.
Copy !req
493. - Except, yes, I did that.
- I'm a little confused.
Copy !req
494. There was this idiotic round robin.
Copy !req
495. It was sarcastic.
There's no way they didn't know.
Copy !req
496. They were just mad at me
for calling them stupid.
Copy !req
497. Before we go on:
Copy !req
498. C.J., if blood is gushing
from a head wound you received...
Copy !req
499. from a stampede of bison,
you'll do the briefings.
Copy !req
500. Yes, sir.
Copy !req
501. - Mr. President...
- A secret plan?
Copy !req
502. There was no turning them back.
They wouldn't take no.
Copy !req
503. - Were you clear?
- Yes.
Copy !req
504. They said, "If he has a plan,
is it right that he keep it secret?"
Copy !req
505. I said, "Of course not. "
Copy !req
506. Are you telling me that not only
did you invent a secret plan...
Copy !req
507. but now you don't support it?
Copy !req
508. - When you put it like that...
- Mr. President.
Copy !req
509. Much as we'd love nothing more
than to stand and watch you...
Copy !req
510. beat the living crap out of Josh,
there's a bigger fish to fry.
Copy !req
511. What did Mendoza do?
Copy !req
512. He told the Tribune you were wrong
to make O'Leary apologize.
Copy !req
513. - I didn't. He did.
- You told me to.
Copy !req
514. - You said you'd fix it.
- I did.
Copy !req
515. - It's broken again.
- Because your nominee...
Copy !req
516. is handling himself
in an unprofessional manner.
Copy !req
517. We'll have the first
of a series of discussions...
Copy !req
518. about professionalism another time.
Copy !req
519. - Where is Mendoza?
- He's on his way.
Copy !req
520. - Right now?
- He'll be here the day after tomorrow.
Copy !req
521. - From Neptune?
- He's vacationing with his family.
Copy !req
522. They'd prefer to take a drive
through Canada and New England...
Copy !req
523. while stopping
for antique shopping.
Copy !req
524. He'll take the Trans-Canada Highway...
Copy !req
525. Okay, we'll wait for Mendoza.
Copy !req
526. In the meantime, C.J.,
you'll untangle the press corps.
Copy !req
527. We'll hope nothing happens today
to make this any worse.
Copy !req
528. Although I wouldn't bet
the house on it. That is all.
Copy !req
529. Thank you, Mr. President.
Copy !req
530. I want to tell you I'm sorry.
Copy !req
531. This will be cleaned up
in a professional manner.
Copy !req
532. Good.
Copy !req
533. If anyone asks,
you quit smoking years ago.
Copy !req
534. The cigarette you bummed
was for a friend.
Copy !req
535. - Get out.
- You bet.
Copy !req
536. That was it.
Copy !req
537. - What happened to Judge Mendoza?
- I'm sorry?
Copy !req
538. - Did he get here from Nova Scotia?
- He's on his way.
Copy !req
539. He's spending the night
in Connecticut to do antiquing.
Copy !req
540. - He's been in there a little while.
- Yeah.
Copy !req
541. I'm the one that pulled him over.
Copy !req
542. His driving was erratic. I'm not
convinced he hadn't been drinking.
Copy !req
543. - You have a problem there.
- What's that?
Copy !req
544. He has chronic persistent hepatitis.
Non-progressive liver inflammation.
Copy !req
545. If he'd had enough to drink
to blow. 1, he'd be dead right now.
Copy !req
546. This is good coffee.
Copy !req
547. Why didn't you take the Breathalyzer?
Copy !req
548. I was driving within the speed limit
on the right side of the road.
Copy !req
549. I have valid tags and I don't have
warrants for my arrest in Connecticut.
Copy !req
550. Absent just cause,
a Breathalyzer's an illegal search...
Copy !req
551. and a civil-rights violation.
Copy !req
552. So you give him a hard time
to make a point?
Copy !req
553. - A point worth making.
- Not now.
Copy !req
554. - Right now.
- One phone call:
Copy !req
555. "Toby, this happened. Tell them I'm
Mendoza and I'm named to the bench. "
Copy !req
556. They pulled me over because I look
like my name is Roberto Mendoza...
Copy !req
557. and I'm coming to rob your house.
Copy !req
558. Let's go.
Copy !req
559. - Where are we going?
- Let's go home.
Copy !req
560. - I'm not going anywhere.
- Judge!
Copy !req
561. - I'm under arrest.
- Not anymore.
Copy !req
562. You pull all the strings you want
but not for me.
Copy !req
563. Come Monday, I'll avail myself
of the justice system...
Copy !req
564. for which I have worked
my entire life.
Copy !req
565. Judge, due respect, let's go.
Copy !req
566. My kid was in the car, Toby.
Copy !req
567. They patted me down
and handcuffed me in front of my boy.
Copy !req
568. Then he and his mother...
Copy !req
569. got to see them put me
in the squad car and drive away.
Copy !req
570. He's also seen you wearing a robe
with a gavel in your hand.
Copy !req
571. He doesn't understand that.
He doesn't know what that is.
Copy !req
572. He understands who the police are
because of TV.
Copy !req
573. That's what he'll remember.
His father being handcuffed.
Copy !req
574. So America just got another
pissed-off guy with dark skin.
Copy !req
575. - Robbie and Laura, where are they?
- Motel, a few miles.
Copy !req
576. There's nothing about this
that doesn't stink.
Copy !req
577. If it were me, I'd want vengeance.
I'd say, "Let justice be done. "
Copy !req
578. I'd also want to spend time
in a dark room alone...
Copy !req
579. so that I didn't have to face
my wife and my son...
Copy !req
580. and have them see my humiliation.
Copy !req
581. Bob, I can't get this done
if this is the story.
Copy !req
582. Nothing about this that doesn't stink.
Copy !req
583. Nothing that wouldn't be better
if you were a Supreme Court justice.
Copy !req
584. Let me take you to the motel.
Go see your boy.
Copy !req
585. So, can I ask?
Copy !req
586. A guy in your job, do you know
missile codes and that sort of thing?
Copy !req
587. - Yeah.
- Outstanding.
Copy !req
588. - Good evening, Mr. Justice.
- Good evening, Sam.
Copy !req
589. - He's got personal items?
- Yes, sir.
Copy !req
590. It's your lucky night.
Copy !req
591. There isn't going to be a report,
an investigation or suspension.
Copy !req
592. And no one's filing a $100-million
lawsuit that they would surely win.
Copy !req
593. But in this room,
you'll apologize to Mr. Mendoza.
Copy !req
594. Then you'll get in your squad car,
follow us and apologize to his son.
Copy !req
595. Judge Mendoza...
Copy !req
596. we sincerely apologize
for our mistake.
Copy !req
597. - Thank you.
- Let's go.
Copy !req
598. You could do a better job
of marking the exits on the thruway.
Copy !req
599. Let's go.
Copy !req
600. We'll be behind you.
Copy !req
601. If there's no reason for you to
go back, you should spend the night.
Copy !req
602. - What's up here?
- Great antiquing.
Copy !req
603. You're killing me, judge.
Absolutely killing me.
Copy !req
604. Josh? It's over.
Copy !req
605. Good.
Copy !req
606. That's the last time
the phone will ring, I promise.
Copy !req
607. There's a part of the story
I didn't tell you.
Copy !req
608. I can't.
Copy !req
609. It doesn't involve...
I just can't, right now.
Copy !req
610. Ask me back again
after the Senate confirms Mendoza.
Copy !req
611. You should hear it. It's a good story.
Copy !req
612. - Why don't we take some questions?
- Yeah.
Copy !req