Disclaimer: They're not mine.
DESCRIPTION: After all of the sadness of ceremony of the Reagan funeral, I
thought I'd write a story set in the future about the death of President
Bartlet. Since there are mentioned briefly, I'll tell you that Bob Russell
is elected after Bartlet in 2006, but loses to Glenallen Walken in 2010.
Walken is reelected in 2014, and is president during this story.
Washington, D.C. Tuesday May, 2017 10:25 AM
"This is a FOX News Alert. Former President Josiah Bartlet has died. This news announced less than ten minutes ago in Manchester, New Hampshire by the president's son-in-law and director of the Bartlet Presidential Library Charles Young...."
The young staffer ran down the hall toward the senator's office. He nearly barreled into the senator's secretary as she barred his entrance into the inner sanctum.
"What the hell's gotten into you?" she asked
"There's something on TV. that the senator is going to want to see!" the staffer nearly shouted. As he did, the big oak door opened, and Senator Sam Seaborn exited into the secretary's anteroom.
"Senator Seaborn, there's big news on TV. I think President Bartlet's died."
Without a word, Sam ran back into his office and turned on the small television near his desk. It was already tuned to CNN, and the anchor was announcing the bad news.
"...farmhouse in Manchester, New Hampshire. The official cause of death has not been released, but as we already know, the former president has been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis since before his first presidential campaign. Again, Former President Josiah Bartlet dead today at age 80."
Sam grabbed his phone and dialed. He waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, someone answered.
"Lyman and Zeigler Consulting," a pleasant voice on the other end said.
"Yes, this is Senator Sam Seaborn; I need to speak with both Mr. Lyman and Mr. Zeigler instantly." The line clicked, and Sam heard a hiss. He knew that he was on a speakerphone.
"Sam?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, Josh, is Toby in the room with you? CNN is running..."
"We just heard the news. Toby's channel surfing right now. CNN, FOX, and MSNBC are all running it. ABC, and CBS just broke into regular programming to announce it. God, I can't believe that the president's gone."
"His health hasn't been great over the last few years," Sam could hear Toby saying. "It's not like it was completely unexpected."
"It's still a shock," Josh replied. "He's one of those people that seemed immortal." "I know," Toby agreed as he ran a hand over his gray beard.
"Listen," Sam said finally. "I'm going to call Charlie in Manchester and see what the funeral arrangements are."
"Okay. You'll get back to us with it?"
"Will, do." With that, Sam hung up and stared at the CNN report.
"President Bartlet's health has been in a decline recently," the anchor was saying. "News of his sudden death, however, comes as a shock to many. Details are still scarce, but according to the Bartlet family, the president collapsed in the yard on his farm. Secret Service agents and Mrs. Bartlet tried to perform CPR, but were unable to revive him.
"With us from Boston is Former President Bartlet's chief of staff and labor secretary under the Newman Administration, Leo McGarry. Mr. McGarry welcome, on what must be a very sad day for you."
"Chuck," Leo replied, "this indeed a very sad day not just for me but for the United States." As Sam watched, he noted how Leo's speech had gotten even more slurred since the last time they had spoken. A stroke three years before had confined Leo to a wheelchair, and had left the left side of his face paralyzed.
"We'll no doubt hear," the CNN anchor was saying, "about Jed Bartlet the president for the next several days. You were his friend, though. Tell us a little bit about Jed Bartlet the man."
Sam watched for a few more seconds. It was hard enough watching Leo talk after being ravaged by his stroke, but now Leo was on the verge of tears as he spoke of the president. Finally, Sam switched the television off.
Manchester, New Hampshire Same Time
Charlie Young sat behind his desk in the main office of the Bartlet Presidential Library. He reviewed list of arrangements made for the funeral as he spoke to his mother-in-law. "Yes, ma'am. I called Zoey and told her the news. She cancelled her classes for the rest of the week, and is probably on her way out to the farm right now." Charlie listened as Abby Bartlet spoke to him. "Ye...yes, ma'am. I think Zoey wants to see you first, but she's going to go and get the kids out of school early today. She was afraid that they might hear the news from a teacher or maybe another student. Yes, ma'am, I have everything ready. I'll announce the arrangements as soon as I get off the phone with you. Yes, ma'am. I love you too." Charlie hung up the phone. He admired the heck out of Abby Bartlet for the way she was taking the news of her husband's sudden death. Even in the deepest hour of her grief, she was making sure everything was as it should be. Charlie rose to leave his office, but stopped when the phone rang again. He picked it up.
"Charlie Young."
"Charlie, it's Sam Seaborn."
"Hey, Sam."
"Hey. I'm so sorry about the president. Please be sure and tell Zoey and Dr. Bartlet that they're in my prayers. I'm still a little in shock over the news."
"It's a shock for us too. He was outside behind the house, tilling up land for a vegetable garden. He just collapsed suddenly. They say that he was probably gone before he hit the ground."
Sam sighed. "I'm going to miss him. I was calling to see what the arrangements for the funeral are."
"I was just about to go and announce it to the press. The President and Mrs. Bartlet have had this planned out ever since he was president. Someone from the protocol office actually makes them do that. Can you imagine? Anyway," Charlie put on a pair of half glasses as he read over the plans that he held in his hands, "after the president's body has been prepared, his casket will be brought to the New Hampshire state house in Concord."
He paused for a second and took a breath to keep from breaking down. He had a job to do; one last week of service for President Josiah Bartlet. He had to get through it.
"After that, he'll be flown to Washington on Thursday afternoon to lie in state in the Capitol for. Saturday morning, there'll be a public service held at National Cathedral, and a private service that afternoon at the Bartlet Library here in Manchester. You're invited to the public and the private services. So are Josh and Donna, Toby, Leo, and CJ."
"Who's going to give the eulogies?"
"At National, we'll have Former President Russell, Former President Raddick of Russia, Lord Mulberry, and President Walken. Here in Manchester, I'll speak, as well as Zoey, Ellie, and Elizabeth. We're going to let Leo speak too. It'll be hard for him, but Mrs. Bartlet said that she wants him up there."
"Thanks, Charlie. I'm going to let you get back to your job. I'm sure it can't be easy."
"Sam, you can't imagine. He's was like a father to me. It took all I had not to cry when I made the announcement that he had died."
"You're right, Charlie, I'm sorry. It's hard for me, but I can't imagine how it must be for you. Go make your announcement."
"We'll see you some time this week, Sam."
"Yeah. Bye, Charlie."
Washington, D.C. Tuesday May, 2017 10:25 AM
"This is a FOX News Alert. Former President Josiah Bartlet has died. This news announced less than ten minutes ago in Manchester, New Hampshire by the president's son-in-law and director of the Bartlet Presidential Library Charles Young...."
The young staffer ran down the hall toward the senator's office. He nearly barreled into the senator's secretary as she barred his entrance into the inner sanctum.
"What the hell's gotten into you?" she asked
"There's something on TV. that the senator is going to want to see!" the staffer nearly shouted. As he did, the big oak door opened, and Senator Sam Seaborn exited into the secretary's anteroom.
"Senator Seaborn, there's big news on TV. I think President Bartlet's died."
Without a word, Sam ran back into his office and turned on the small television near his desk. It was already tuned to CNN, and the anchor was announcing the bad news.
"...farmhouse in Manchester, New Hampshire. The official cause of death has not been released, but as we already know, the former president has been suffering from Multiple Sclerosis since before his first presidential campaign. Again, Former President Josiah Bartlet dead today at age 80."
Sam grabbed his phone and dialed. He waited for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, someone answered.
"Lyman and Zeigler Consulting," a pleasant voice on the other end said.
"Yes, this is Senator Sam Seaborn; I need to speak with both Mr. Lyman and Mr. Zeigler instantly." The line clicked, and Sam heard a hiss. He knew that he was on a speakerphone.
"Sam?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, Josh, is Toby in the room with you? CNN is running..."
"We just heard the news. Toby's channel surfing right now. CNN, FOX, and MSNBC are all running it. ABC, and CBS just broke into regular programming to announce it. God, I can't believe that the president's gone."
"His health hasn't been great over the last few years," Sam could hear Toby saying. "It's not like it was completely unexpected."
"It's still a shock," Josh replied. "He's one of those people that seemed immortal." "I know," Toby agreed as he ran a hand over his gray beard.
"Listen," Sam said finally. "I'm going to call Charlie in Manchester and see what the funeral arrangements are."
"Okay. You'll get back to us with it?"
"Will, do." With that, Sam hung up and stared at the CNN report.
"President Bartlet's health has been in a decline recently," the anchor was saying. "News of his sudden death, however, comes as a shock to many. Details are still scarce, but according to the Bartlet family, the president collapsed in the yard on his farm. Secret Service agents and Mrs. Bartlet tried to perform CPR, but were unable to revive him.
"With us from Boston is Former President Bartlet's chief of staff and labor secretary under the Newman Administration, Leo McGarry. Mr. McGarry welcome, on what must be a very sad day for you."
"Chuck," Leo replied, "this indeed a very sad day not just for me but for the United States." As Sam watched, he noted how Leo's speech had gotten even more slurred since the last time they had spoken. A stroke three years before had confined Leo to a wheelchair, and had left the left side of his face paralyzed.
"We'll no doubt hear," the CNN anchor was saying, "about Jed Bartlet the president for the next several days. You were his friend, though. Tell us a little bit about Jed Bartlet the man."
Sam watched for a few more seconds. It was hard enough watching Leo talk after being ravaged by his stroke, but now Leo was on the verge of tears as he spoke of the president. Finally, Sam switched the television off.
Manchester, New Hampshire Same Time
Charlie Young sat behind his desk in the main office of the Bartlet Presidential Library. He reviewed list of arrangements made for the funeral as he spoke to his mother-in-law. "Yes, ma'am. I called Zoey and told her the news. She cancelled her classes for the rest of the week, and is probably on her way out to the farm right now." Charlie listened as Abby Bartlet spoke to him. "Ye...yes, ma'am. I think Zoey wants to see you first, but she's going to go and get the kids out of school early today. She was afraid that they might hear the news from a teacher or maybe another student. Yes, ma'am, I have everything ready. I'll announce the arrangements as soon as I get off the phone with you. Yes, ma'am. I love you too." Charlie hung up the phone. He admired the heck out of Abby Bartlet for the way she was taking the news of her husband's sudden death. Even in the deepest hour of her grief, she was making sure everything was as it should be. Charlie rose to leave his office, but stopped when the phone rang again. He picked it up.
"Charlie Young."
"Charlie, it's Sam Seaborn."
"Hey, Sam."
"Hey. I'm so sorry about the president. Please be sure and tell Zoey and Dr. Bartlet that they're in my prayers. I'm still a little in shock over the news."
"It's a shock for us too. He was outside behind the house, tilling up land for a vegetable garden. He just collapsed suddenly. They say that he was probably gone before he hit the ground."
Sam sighed. "I'm going to miss him. I was calling to see what the arrangements for the funeral are."
"I was just about to go and announce it to the press. The President and Mrs. Bartlet have had this planned out ever since he was president. Someone from the protocol office actually makes them do that. Can you imagine? Anyway," Charlie put on a pair of half glasses as he read over the plans that he held in his hands, "after the president's body has been prepared, his casket will be brought to the New Hampshire state house in Concord."
He paused for a second and took a breath to keep from breaking down. He had a job to do; one last week of service for President Josiah Bartlet. He had to get through it.
"After that, he'll be flown to Washington on Thursday afternoon to lie in state in the Capitol for. Saturday morning, there'll be a public service held at National Cathedral, and a private service that afternoon at the Bartlet Library here in Manchester. You're invited to the public and the private services. So are Josh and Donna, Toby, Leo, and CJ."
"Who's going to give the eulogies?"
"At National, we'll have Former President Russell, Former President Raddick of Russia, Lord Mulberry, and President Walken. Here in Manchester, I'll speak, as well as Zoey, Ellie, and Elizabeth. We're going to let Leo speak too. It'll be hard for him, but Mrs. Bartlet said that she wants him up there."
"Thanks, Charlie. I'm going to let you get back to your job. I'm sure it can't be easy."
"Sam, you can't imagine. He's was like a father to me. It took all I had not to cry when I made the announcement that he had died."
"You're right, Charlie, I'm sorry. It's hard for me, but I can't imagine how it must be for you. Go make your announcement."
"We'll see you some time this week, Sam."
"Yeah. Bye, Charlie."