Sorry for any mistakes, standard disclaimer applies. Spoliers for many things.
C.J.
"Hi my name in C.J. I was invited here today to talk about what it was like to the Press Secretary for the leader of the free world. I was President Bartlet's Press Secretary. This, Berkley, is my alma mater. I guess you want to know what did, how I got from California to Washington D.C. and the White House. It's simple. I fell in my swimming pool."
The group in front of her laughed and C.J. relaxed slightly.
"I didn't do it on purpose, I fell in Ôcause Toby gave me a shock. I'd just been fired from my job and I'd broken my glasses so I couldn't see where I was going. When I got home I saw a strange car so I went round the back to the pool. Toby was sitting at the other end of my back yard in a chair waiting for me. I miss judged the distance I was walking and fell in the pool. Toby being, well Toby laughed and sat there. You might think that's a bit mean not helping me but we've got history and I can be somewhat of a klutz.
"He told me that Leo McGarry wanted me to join Jed Bartlet's campaign for present. Toby told me it was graduation day and that's how it started. I became Press Secretary for the campaign and then when we won for the White House. Being Press Secretary isn't as easy as it sounds. You've got to be friendly with the press but not too close, you've got to handle difficult situations and you've even got to deal with being left out of the loop.
"I dealt with various crises during my time and even contemplated quitting once or twice. I dealt with Leo and drugs, Sam and a call girl, Rosslyn, Bartlet and MS, Josh and Donna and many more.
"It was never easy doing what I did but overall it was fulfilling. The Bartlet Administration, the Bartlet Legacy has given me heartache, stress, shootings, love and a family among my closest friends. It's given me more than any other job or series of circumstances could and I feel blessed to have been part of it."
C.J. looked around and smiled.
"Questions?" She asked reverted back to Press Secretary mode. Most of the students raised their hands. C.J. pointed to one boy in a green shirt.
"What does C.J. stand for?"
C.J. laughed.
"Claudia Jean. But there are only 3 or 4 people in the world that are allowed to call me that."
She pointed to a girl in the front row.
"Is it true that you're now married to Toby Ziegler who was Communications Director when you were Press Secretary?"
"Yes it's true. That's what I meant about the love the administration gave me. I've got 2 step children and we've adopted a daughter of our own."
C.J. then looked around and picked another student, one right at the back who had come it late.
"What do you remember about Rosslyn and how were you affected by it?"
C.J. froze for a moment, flooded with memories of that night.
"I remember very little about the shooting itself, I sustained a head injuring. I remember the speech before hand, the events of the day and the consequences of that night. We were all affected Physiologically by it but none as much as Josh Lyman. I remember waiting for news of Josh and the President when they were in surgery, I remember the expression on Donna's face when Toby told her about Josh. I remember the PJ's I bought him when he was recovering that were too big. I remember that Sam pulled me down behind a car and I remember the press briefings every hour or two and that you couldn't turn on a T.V. without hearing about it.
But what I remember most of all was something Simon Donavon told me or rather told my niece Hogan who then persuaded him to tell me. Simon one of my Secret Service agents for a while when I had been receiving death threats. We became quiet close. Anyway, Hogan asked Simon if he had ever had cause to brandish is weapon. She worked out that the only time recently was at Rosslyn. Simon told me later that he had been on the roof. He shot one of the two assassins and killed him. All in a day's work for him but that shows how well trained they are. Simon could fire 5 bullets from his gun dead centre each time without pausing."
C.J. paused for a moment before calling on the next person.
"What does it feel like to walk into the Oval Office?"
"It's amazing, like shivers down your spine. It's a majestic room."
"What's your happiest memory of being Press Secretary?"
"Truthfully I've got two. The first is briefing the press, doing just what I'm meant to do. The second, surprisingly, is leading the children in song during the Thanksgiving celebrations, but if you let anyone know that I'll kick your ass," she said with a laugh.
"What's the best bit about working in the Senior Staff for the President?"
"Riding in Air Force One."
"Can you tell us a funny story from your time as Press Secretary?"
C.J. grinned.
"Sure. I've got a thing about dentists I don't like them. One day, many years ago before we were re-elected I had emergency root canal. I was meant to do a briefing an hour or so later but Josh decided he should do it instead. I learnt never to let Joshua Lyman in my Press Room again. He made up a Secret Plan To Fight Inflation. Lets just say he still regrets it to this day."
The professor stepped forward.
"I'm sorry to say that's all we've got time for. Thank you Ms. Cregg for speaking to us."
"My pleasure, and it's Cregg-Ziegler." C.J. said with a smile, she shook hands with the professor, waved to the students as they applauded and gracefully left the stage.
TBC...
Who next?