Chapter 11 – All She's Learned
"There's no such thing as a typical day in the White House" Deputy Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman
There are many critics of the Bartlet administration. Until recently I was one such person. However, my boss is a huge Bartlet fan. So after a five hour flight I landed in Washington. I expected this to be like any other assignment. I didn't know how much would change in between the time I entered the West Wing and when I planned on leaving three months later.
I grew up in Washington politics. I loved the policies but not the ideals or morals of politicians. I graduated from the University of California Berkeley (Go Bears!) for graduate school with two job offers. The Associated Press in Los Angeles with the L.A. Times or the Washington Post. I chose the AP. I was still involved in politics though. I wrote about it everyday. I soon knew everything about the inner workings of the government. Or so I thought. I was still an outsider in many ways. So when I wrote a harsh opinion piece on the Bartlet administration I thought I knew what I was talking about. The piece, much to my boss' displeasure, made its way to the New York Times. A week later I was in Washington.
After the first few hours in the West Wing I felt I was unwanted. In fact, Joshua Lyman called me a traitor to the party and the nation. To his defense, he didn't know I was listening, and when he did, he apologized profusely.
C.J. stopped reading, grinning as Josh blushed. "She wrote that?"
"Yes. But there is more. It's a nice, lengthy article."
"Don't you have a briefing? Isn't Dani being formally introduced to the press?" Josh asked, trying his best to avoid the subject.
"Yes, although she knows the press better than I do."
"Go! Out of my office C.J.!"
C.J. chuckled meeting Danielle in the hallway. "You ready?"
"No. The last person at this job was fired."
"You aren't Mandy. And you aren't Josh's ex-girlfriend."
They entered the press room together. C.J. went to her spot, Danielle to a place slightly to the left. "Good morning everyone. I'm sure everyone knows this after Dani's article. I would like for you all to give a hand to Danielle Lancer. She will be your new Media Consultant." Applause and camera flashes went off around the room. "C.J.?"
"Yes John?"
"May we question Dani?"
"Naturally." C.J. stepped away, giving the podium to Danielle.
"So Mandy's job huh? What do you plan to do to get fired?"
"Yes, my fellow press members I am taking Mandy's old job. But I am not Mandy. I am reporter by blood and heart. So I will try to balance you all and Senior Staff. And let me tell you it is going to be difficult. I am not strong enough to carry thirty grown people on my back."
Everyone laughed and C.J. almost beamed. She had learned so much, including how to dodge a question. There had been moment when she had questioned Danielle's ability but the times like that instantly restored her confidence. Her wit, sarcasm, writing talent, ideologies and political knowledge fit in wordlessly with the rest of the senior staff. She hadn't known anyone could fit in seamlessly with a group of people. Heck, half the time C.J. wondered how well she fit in with Sam, Toby and Josh.
I started out only as the memo girl. I did my investigating for the Los Angeles Times, sitting in on meetings and going about the days. People would give me memos to write or things to research. I was supposed to be the quiet field mouse. And until they realized I would be more useful helping with policy or speechwriting, I was. I went to sit in on a meeting over government funding for college. I wasn't suppose to voice my opinion, although I did, quoting statistics from the memo I had created. I think Toby Ziegler was furious at me by that point because I stole his thunder. Nobody steals Toby's thunder.
"She's right you know." Sam said, holding the article in his hands.
"What?" Toby asked, looking up from his own paper, annoyed.
"That nobody steals the thunder of Toby."
"I think I'm actually going to have to forgive her for that."
"Is that a bad thing?" Sam was smirking as Toby grabbed the rubber ball to chuck at him.
"Go. You have work to do."
"No. I don't. I finished the brief for the meeting with the Bosnian Prime Minister. I came here to see if you had anything for me to do."
"Good god are we having a slow day?"
"I guess."
"We need something. Ginger! Bonnie! Please tell me we have something for Sam and me."
"You both have a meeting on the Hill at two but otherwise no." Ginger called back, making Sam cringe.
"Nothing?" A sly smile creeped up Toby's face and instantly Sam knew what he was thinking.
"Education, health care or making tax forms easier to read?"
"I'll take college education. You take primary and secondary."
"Meet in two hours?" Sam asked, almost giddily.
"Yes."
The most public face in the White House Office is the press secretary, C.J. Cregg. I never knew until I tried briefing how hard a job that is. C.J. handles her job with poise, dignity and a respect for all the people who came before her. She knows the best out of anyone she serves at the pleasure of the President. Seeing her angry at a press member for disrespecting her job or the President is like watching a hurricane - swift and furious. The White House couldn't stand without C.J. And the White House could not do better.
"C.J..." Leo asked, watching as her eyes grew distant.
"Yes?"
"I need to brief you about the U.N. remember?"
"Oh...right. Hey did you read what she said about you?"
"No. Some of us actually have jobs C.J."
"Right." She hung her head for a second before looking up with her briefing face on.
The person I have most harshly criticized is the White House Chief of Staff, Leo McGarry. Honestly that man must have six lives and twelve hands. I've never seen someone so dedicated to his party - or his country. After serving in Vietnam he could have said 'I'm done'. But he didn't. If C.J. is the spine, Leo is the foundation. He tries to manage time effectively but with a President that loves to talk sometimes it is difficult. I have the utmost respect for Leo. He is like a father, guiding us all.
Now I saved two people for almost last. These two are the head of the communications area. They are the best writers I've ever met and I've met my fair share. They share a united dream of making the country better. And although they are extremely different – one sarcastic and pessimistic; the other bright eyed and as true of an optimist as one can get – they work extremely well together crafting the President's message for the world. They follow strict rules and follow even stricter standards they gave for themselves. One such rule is to never quote Communists – or apparently Republicans although later I found that was a joke. Sam and Toby, Toby and Sam. It's scary what gets accomplished when the two put their heart into something as they so often do.
I suppose by now everyone is thinking I forgot about President Bartlet. But I didn't. President Bartlet to put it in no nicer terms, is a geek. A goodhearted geek I might add. He believes many – if not all – problems can be solved by knowledge and talking things out. He has a lot of useless and useful knowledge floating in his brain. Like he's memorized the Butterball hotline when his cooks have banned him from cooking turkey. Last time it exploded. At least, that's what I've heard. President Bartlet truly cares about the U.S. and world and especially his staff and family. Liz, Abbie, Ellie and Zoëy are his world. The six senior staff running closely behind.
The White House Office is a family among a larger family – the Democrats. A family I am proud to be a part of for three months. I was told when I took this assignment some useful information from my brother. "If you walk ten thousand miles in someone else's shoes, not only will you have walked ten thousand miles and accomplished so much, but you will learn about them. You will know everything about the hardships and heartaches they have to endure. So walk those ten thousand miles. You'll never know where you'll end up." So now I have walked 10,000 miles in the shoes of the West Wing staff. And I'm wiser because of it. Hopefully you will be too from the portrays I took.
The door was open since Danielle was expecting Jenna to come and take some pictures for her home. So when the door closed as Danielle was loading the dishwasher she assumed it was her. "Jenna?"
"No such luck. It's Sam."
Danielle walked to the front room where a purple suitcase and Sam stood. "Do you want something to drink?"
"No. I'm good. I came here to thank you. For the article. It was really well-written and you made us sound like angels."
"I told the truth."
"No. You wrote through rose-colored glasses."
"Don't argue with me Samuel Seaborne."
"Alright then. Have you still not unpacked from Prague?" He asked, indicating the suitcase.
"Not exactly. I'm going back to L.A."
Instantly Sam's face changed to one of confusion, hurt and anger. "But you just accepted a job at the…You can't leave! Because you deserve happiness. And I've never seen you so happy since you accepted the job and…"
Danielle smirked, moving over to him. "I have to get my stuff out of storage, ship it here. I'll only be gone two days. I'll be back in the office by Monday."
"When do you leave?"
"Tonight. Thanks for the spewing there." Danielle said, referring to his earlier rant.
"No problem. And when you get back I have something to discuss with you."
"Oh?" Sam hugged her as she giggled, an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah. I think you should move in."
"I'd drive you nuts."
"And my job doesn't?"
"To the White House."
"To the White House." Sam echoed. "And all it stands for – today and tomorrow. Shoes or no shoes. And to the ten-thousand miles we both walked in each other's shoes."
Author's Note: Well here it is. The final chapter of 10,000 Miles in Your Shoes. I hope you all enjoyed the story. For the time being there will be no sequel, although I am working on a few one-shots involving Sam and the rest of the gang.
Questions, Comments, Final words are all appreciated.
A great hand to Christina who reviewed every chapter. I couldn't have done this without her suggestions and support.
Annieca