TITLE: The Right People
AUTHOR: Jacinta
SUMMARY: Leo makes some staff changes. Set during the first campaign.
CHARACTERS: Leo, Josh and Toby
SPOILERS / EPISODE: Up to S4
RATING: G
DISCLAIMER: All the property of NBC, Warner Bros, John Wells, Aaron Sorkin,
Thomas Schlamme....
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20th 1997
Once Jed's left the venue, Leo walks back into the hall and is amused by the being scene playing out there. On one side of the room are Jed's staff - Cal, Jerry, Mack and Steve, with Toby sitting slightly away from them reading something, on the other side is Josh. Josh appears to be doing a crossword, while finishing his chicken and a beer, ostensibly oblivious to the hostile looks he's receiving from across the hall. Leo grins to himself and walks over to Josh. "Thanks for coming," he says as he sits down.
Josh looks up and smiles. "'S'OK."
"I think you're attracting a certain amount of attention," Leo tells him.
"Really?" Josh asks, glancing across the room with a smile. "I must look like someone."
Leo smiles and shakes his head. "You're enjoying winding them up."
"I'm just finishing my chicken," Josh replies with a grin, before looking seriously at the older man. "What's going on, Leo?"
"What did you think of the speech?"
"It didn't really inspire me," Josh admits.
Leo had expected as much. "Did you listen to all of it?"
"I kind of got bored during the bit on forestry, at least I think that's what it was about." Josh studies Leo for a moment wondering, yet again, why he wanted him here. "I think, with a decent speech writer, he could quite easily hold an audiences attention. I'd imagine that if the subject is something he feels strongly about he could raise the roof."
"Yeh he can," Leo agrees. "What do you really think the problem is then?"
"You've been doing this a lot longer than me, you know what the problem is," Josh tells him.
"Yeh," Leo nods. "I'd still value your opinion though."
Josh looks questioningly at Leo. "I work for Hoynes, Leo. It's an odd question to ask me."
"Humor me," Leo persists.
Josh is beginning to think this is a bizarre conversation. He's Hoynes campaign manager and here's Leo McGarry, an opponent's campaign manager, asking for his advice. If it was anyone other than Leo he wouldn't answer, but it is Leo. "I got the feeling that, until he answered the DFC question, he was following someone else's script. The DFC answer was good, he spoke with passion and honesty. That one answer made me believe in him," Josh smiles remembering his conversation with Sam. "It made me believe he may be the real thing."
"The real thing?" Leo asks.
"Yeh," Josh nods.
"But?"
"Tonight didn't feel like he was setting out his stall for the nomination. Bartlet's never lost an election and it shows. The whole thing seems complacent. I just can't decide whether that's the candidate or the staff." Josh watches Leo, wondering whether perhaps he's gone too far. Leo nods though so Josh continues. "He needs to stop listening to the wrong people. Whoever wrote the speech, and those suits at the back of the hall who cringed when he answered the DFC question, they're going to ensure that your campaign never leaves New Hampshire."
Leo nods in agreement, "That's why I'm about to fire them, apart from Toby Zeigler. Toby's a good speech writer and he has some good ideas, but he gets shouted down at every meeting. It was him who told the Governor to be honest if he was asked about the DFC."
"You replace them with staff who know what they're doing and can recognize the Governor's strengths and I think you may give Hoynes a run for his money." Josh looks at his watch. "I've got a train to catch, I'm sorry I'm going to have to go."
Leo and Josh walk through the hall together, chatting about Josh's parents and about Jenny and Mallory. Leo's well aware that his staff are sat watching him and no doubt wondering what the hell he's doing talking to Josh Lyman. Not that that matters, most of them only have another half hour left of their jobs anyway. When they reach the lobby doors Leo stops and asks, "You like Hoynes?"
"I don't have to like him," Josh avoids the question.
"But you're not happy."
"You've been talking to my dad," Josh smiles. "Hoynes has a good chance of beating the Republicans."
Leo studies Josh for a moment and wonders how he's going to react to his offer. He's followed Josh's career with interest and a certain amount of pride that a young man who he helped introduce to politics should have come so far and done so well. "Josh, what are you doing?" he asks.
"Sorry?"
"You're 37, that's exceptionally young to be in your position. You've got a brilliant political mind, you're one of the best political strategists in the country. So what are you doing wasting that talent working for a candidate you don't believe in?"
Josh considers arguing, considers telling Leo that he doesn't know what he's talking about, but he knows Leo's right, just as his father's right, Hoynes is an empty shirt and Josh is becoming more disillusioned by the campaign everyday. So he smiles a little ruefully and shrugs, "I dunno."
"Then quit and join us."
Josh stares at Leo, "Seriously?" he asks and Leo nods. Josh is stunned, "You want me to work for you?"
"Yes. You said I need people who know what they're doing. So join us. I need a good political strategist. Come and be Bartlet for America's senior political advisor."
Josh grins, "OK." There's a small voice in the back of his mind telling him he should think about the offer before accepting, but he needs a new challenge and this would be perfect.
"Good," Leo smiles. "When can you start?"
Josh laughs. "I wouldn't imagine Hoynes will want me hanging around once I quit so, Saturday?"
"Take the weekend off, go and see your folks. Start on Monday."
"You've definitely been speaking to my dad," Josh smiles. He hasn't been home for weeks and even though he tries to call to his parents every day, he knows he should make more effort, especially with his dad being ill. He was suppose to go home today, but he's come here instead. And tomorrow he intends going to New York again, because he has something to tell Sam. Which reminds him, "You need another speech writer?"
"Well I'm about to fire Cal so, yeh, you know one?"
Josh nods, "I just might. Sam Seaborn." Leo looks blank and Josh continues, "He ghost writes for senators and others. You'll have heard his stuff."
"And he's good?"
"The best."
"You haven't read Toby's work," Leo comments. "You think he'll leave where he is now to do this?"
"He's about to be made a partner in a law firm, but he keeps telling me that if I find a candidate who's the real thing then he'll quit and join me. Since I've found one, I'm going to see him on my way home."
"Then you'd better not miss your train."
Josh shakes Leo's hand, "Thanks," he smiles.
"I'll see you on Monday."
___________________
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21st 1997
Leo had told Jed about firing his staff and bringing in new people the night before. He hasn't yet told him who those people are, and he suspects Jed is going to be a little surprised. But first Leo needs to talk to Toby. He finds him in the hotel restaurant, eating breakfast and reading the morning newspaper. "Morning," he says as he sits down.
Toby looks over at his boss and wonders whether his question is going to sound as ridiculous out loud as it does in his head, but he has to ask. "Leo, did you really fire all the staff last night?"
"Apart from you, yeh I did. We're stuck in neutral. None of them were interested in winning, they just wanted the profile of a national campaign. I want staff whose sole aim is to make Jed Bartlet president."
"Well OK," Toby agrees, "but now the only staff are you, me and about ten volunteers."
"We're getting new staff. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. We need someone to handle the press, to organize briefings and releases, and conferences when we get that far."
"That was Gerry's job."
"Yeh, but I want someone who can work the press, not just read out releases. Someone who'll make them want to listen and who knows which stories will grab their attention. Which is where you come in."
Toby looks a horrified at what he thinks Leo is suggesting. "No," he shakes his head. "I write speeches, I don't do the press."
"I didn't mean you," Leo laughs. "You know CJ Cregg don't you?"
"Yeh, yeh I do."
"You think she'll work for us?"
"She's working for a publicity company in Hollywood. She probably earns more in year than our entire staff budget."
"But?"
"She's not happy. I'll call her."
"No, go out there and talk to her, persuade her that Bartlet For America needs her. You need to convince her that Jed Bartlet's the real thing."
"The real thing?" Toby asks.
"Something someone said to me yesterday. Get a flight as soon as you can."
"OK," Toby readily agrees. He likes the idea of working with CJ again. "We need more than CJ though. We need a political strategist."
"We've got one. He should have started by the time you get back from LA."
"Who?"
"Josh Lyman." Leo studies Toby for a reaction.
Toby's face doesn't normally give away his thoughts, but at the moment it's registering shock and disbelief. "Is there another Josh Lyman?"
"Not that I know of."
"Why would he leave Hoynes to work for us?"
"He liked the Governor's answer to the DFC question," Leo tells him.
"I saw him here yesterday, I assumed he was spying for Hoynes, we all did. Cal and the others weren't too happy to see him," Toby almost smiles at the memory of their irritation at Josh's presence.
Leo smiles, "You think Hoynes would bother to send his campaign manager to spy on an unknown candidate?"
"No, but I couldn't think why else he'd be here," Toby admits.
"I know him, I asked him to come and listen to the speech," Leo tells him. "He's gone back to Washington to hand in his resignation."
"Hoynes is gonna be pissed."
"I'd think. Josh has gone via New York. He's got a friend there who ghost writes. He says he's good and he thinks he can persuade him to join us."
Toby still trying to work out why Josh Lyman, a man who's destined to be White House chief of staff if Hoynes wins, which it's looking like he will, why he'd leave Hoynes and join them. "Do you trust him?" he asks.
"Josh?" Leo asks, Toby nods. "Yes, I do. Don't look so worried, he's good at his job."
"I know," Toby agrees. For the first time he actually starts to believe that this is a serious campaign and that they may be in with a chance.
____________________
MONDAY NOVEMBER 24th 1997
Josh had told Hoynes he was quitting on Friday. He'd offered to work out his notice, but Hoynes had told him to leave straight away. He'd been pretty angry with Josh, but Josh understood that. What he hadn't understood was Hoynes standing over him while he packed his stuff, making sure he wasn't sneaking anything out with him. Josh had been insulted by that, though when he thought about it later he supposed Hoynes was just venting his anger. The only thing that Josh is taking with him from Hoynes office is Zach. They'd worked together for Congressman Brennan and had met up again in Hoynes office. Zach's about as impressed with Hoynes as Josh and had gladly agreed to join him in New Hampshire.
After he'd left work, Josh had gone home, packed some stuff in his car and driven to Connecticut to spend the weekend with his parents. His dad was looking much better than the last time he'd seen him. He'd taken the weekend off work and the three of them spent the two days together, catching up. His parents were certainly pleased that he'd left Hoynes, though they didn't know much about Bartlet, they've known Leo for a long time. On Sunday night Josh drove to Manchester and checked into a hotel. On Monday morning he arrived at campaign headquarters at 8am.
"So when's Sam arriving?" Leo asks as he shows Josh to his office.
"Day after tomorrow." Josh dumps his backpack on the office floor and looks around.
"It may be a little smaller than your use to," Leo smiles.
Josh grins, "It'll do just fine. Where do you want me to start?"
"I think you should probably meet the candidate. In about an hour?"
"OK," Josh agrees. "What does he think about you firing his staff and hiring your own?"
"He's fine with it?" Leo smiles. In truth Jed had been angry at Leo for unilaterally firing the staff that he trusted and hiring his own. Although he was shocked to hear who his new senior political advisor was.
Josh laughs. "Why don't I believe you?"
"So what did John say?"
Josh sits on the edge of his new disk and smiles. "I don't think he was that surprised to be honest, he knew I wasn't happy. He was a little angry though. He said I was committing professional suicide," Josh grins.
"Yeh," Leo smiles back, "I think you may have burned your bridges there." He is a little worried about what Josh will do if they don't win because Hoynes will make sure Josh's name is mud in Washington.
Josh is grinning though, "Apparently I'll never work in Washington again."
"You don't seem worried by that threat?"
"I'll just have to make sure we win. So where are the rest of the staff?"
"Sam'll be here the day after tomorrow."
Josh looks at Leo and frowns. "OK, Leo, now you're scaring me."
Leo smiles reassuringly. "Toby's gone to LA to get us a press secretary."
"Anyone I'll know?"
"CJ Cregg."
Josh thinks for a minute, "Worked for EMILY's List?"
"Yeh."
Josh nods. "What's Toby like?"
"I'll let you find that one out yourself. He saw you here on Thursday though, thought maybe you were spying for Hoynes."
Josh laughs, "I don't think Hoynes even realized Bartlet was running."
"Then that's something we're gonna have to fix isn't it," Leo smiles.