S1e5- The Crackpots and These Women (Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House...)

First, it's worth noting that after episodes 2-4, with the terrible synthesized version, we finally have the actual West Wing opening credit music in place.  Composer W.G. Snuffy Walden (who would win an Emmy for this theme song) and producer John Wells negotiated with the Musicians Union to record at a great deal, so from this point forward, the shows soundtrack will feature both recorded music by a 50-piece orchestra.  

Now... on to the episode itself.  What is there to say that hasn't already been said by Mr. Leo Thomas McGary?

"Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House had a big block of cheese.  The block of cheese was huge--over two tons. And it was there for any and all who might be hungry.  Jackson wanted the White House to belong to the people, so from time to time, he opened his doors to those who wished an audience.  It is in the spirit of Andrew Jackson that I, from time to time, ask senior
staff to have face-to-face meetings with those people representing organizations who have a difficult time getting our attention.

I know the more jaded among you, see this as something rather beneath you. But I assure you that listening to the voices of passionate Americans is beneath no one, and surely not the peoples' servants."
                                                                                          - Leo McGary

Andrew Jackson, wearing a cheesehead, courtesy of the BBC.

For Big Block of Cheese day, Sam meets with Bob Engler, US Space Command (attempting to camouflage his nerdiness with his clothing, and whom you might recognize as lawyer Ted Buckland, from 'Scrubs').

Bob (and his not-nerdy clothing)

Bob would like the White House to pay a little more attention to UFO's.  Currently, they aren't paying any attention, and that's not likely to change any time soon.  

CJ meets with some scientists who would like to create a wolves-only highway.  The cost for this?  900 Million dollars.  

CJ's reaction?

Pretty sure that says it all.  When asked what a better use for $900 million dollars would be, CJ offers building the best nine schools in the world.  The scientists then move on to the grizzly bear.  For their sake, I hope CJ didn't see "The Revenant."

While both of these meetings provide wonderfully funny moments in this episode, it's important to note that both CJ and Sam are impacted by their meetings; Sam asks his secretary Cathy for updates on the unknown object Bob tells him about, and CJ wonders aloud why we can't build schools and protect the wildlife.  The point is, the Big Block of Cheese Day works; the smallest voices can have an impact on the most influential members of the government, and we are reminded that they are there to lead through service to others, not for themselves.

What's Josh up to during all this?  Yeesh.  Josh is worried that smallpox might come back.  Josh is full of guilt over having a card directing him to Air Force One in case of nuclear attack.  Josh's guilt revolves around the realization that he's the only one of his coworkers who has such a card, and CJ, Toby, Sam and Donna don't also have cards.   The idea for this plotline apparently came from two consultants to the show- George Stephanopoulos (Senior Advisor to Clinton) showed Sorkin his card, and Dee Dee Myers (Clinton's press secretary) told Sorkin that they didn't really exist; she only thought this because she wasn't given one.  It's endearing moment to watch Josh struggle with this, and we see the depth with which these characters care about one another.  As much as Josh is feeling terrible about this all day, CJ tries to bring him back to earth- reminding him that a Press Secretary wouldn't be very essential in a post-nuclear apocalyptic administration, and to come have chili with everyone else.  

We meet President Bartlet's daughter, Zoey, who's starting college in the spring (for some unknown reason, but I suppose if the leader of the free world wants a deferral for the first semester, he can get it)- she and Charlie conspire over the chili, and Charlie is charmingly formal with Zoey.  We also get a vintage Bartlet speech to end the episode; he wraps everything up, CJ is a Big Block of Cheese convert, we can cure smallpox again, we should make college affordable for everyone, and asks Toby (who has spent the majority of the episode challenging the president to be and do better) what the next challenge will be, before reminding us of "the time when our eyes looked towards the heavens, 

and with outstretched fingers, we touched the face of God."  Doesn't everyone start chili night with a speech like that?  I'm telling you, President Bartlet, if you keep making me tear up at the end of these episodes with touching speeches, we're going to have a problem.

Finally, for future reference-

Leo's List:

(retribution for snickering is forthcoming)

1.  Sam Seaborn

-End of Leo's List-

What's Next?  S1e6- Mr. Willis of Ohio

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