Sam Seaborn
"Wow, it's nice to be back here at Princeton. Apparently I'm here to talk to you about what it's like to work in the White House and the idea known as the Bartlet Legacy. I was a senior counselor to the President so obviously I worked with Jed Bartlet, well I worked for him. I served at the pleasure of President Bartlet who is an extraordinarily kind man but even more so once he remembers your name. Leo McGarry is like a second father to me, well most of the time, and he has an good heart underneath his gruff exterior. Toby Cregg-Ziegler and I were the 'Batman and Robin' of speechwriting although I didn't like being called Robin; he's one of my closest friends even if he pretends otherwise and Toby is my favorite writer. Josh Lyman is best friend, and he's smarter than me. There are only a few people in the world who understand Josh and I'm one of them.
"Now, to be honest with you I'm something of a klutz and well known for it but there are times when C.J. Cregg-Ziegler even out does me; during the time I have known her, nearly 20 years, she has ended up in a pool at least seven times and normally of her own accord. The first day I met her we were talking about how we got our jobs in the 'Bartlet For America' and she told me, "I fell in my pool." C.J. is one of the smartest women I know but she also one of the scariest. If you do something wrong she'll be the first to slap you round the head but she's also your first phone call and continues to amaze me each time I see her, just like the rest of the Bartlet women. By that I don't just mean Dr Bartlet, Liz, Ellie, Zoey and Annie; I mean the late Mrs Landingham and Debbie Fiderer the only two assistants that ever lasted Jed Bartlet, C.J. Cregg-Ziegler the woman is like a fifties movie star, Donna Lyman the one who kept Josh Lyman in check and earned the respect of the senior staff, Margaret McGarry with her rules about appointments and my assistant Cathy who scares me nearly as much as C.J. and continues to steal doughnuts from my desk. I freely admit that I'm scared of Abbey Bartlet, C.J. and my wife Lizzie but until you meet Donna Lyman when she's angry about something someone has said about Josh or their kids you don't know the meaning of scared, like most mother's she is a saber tooth tiger in disguise.
"While we were in the White House Leo McGarry tried, at the beginning of every month, to make us meet with people we don't normally take meetings with. This is 'Big Block of Cheese Day' but is more commonly known as 'Total Crackpot Day' or 'Throw Open Our Office Doors To People Who Want To Discuss Things That We Could Care Less About Day' depending on who you talk to and if you didn't like the usual title. This is a tradition, however much we complain about it, that all of us want to continue. As a Congressman, if there wasn't a vote that day, Josh and I would continue this tradition now although meeting with a Congressman or his Chief of Staff isn't the same as meeting with a Senior Staffer at the White House your voice is still being heard, even if it is only once a month.
"There was a concept that was created as the Bartlet Administration left office and everyone moved their separate ways, this concept is the Bartlet Legacy. This means that we would continue to work for the Real Thing and would settle for nothing less; continuing to fight for what we believe in and for the future of the country. This Bartlet Family continues the Legacy started by Jed Bartlet and Leo McGarry the day Leo persuaded Jed to run; we continue to look out for each other separated as we are. I admit that I don't always see the right things and do the right things but when I want outside counsel or just another opinion I call Toby, Leo or Jed Bartlet.
"I have two best friends in life, my wife and my chief of staff: Lizzie and Josh. There's no denying that Josh is smarter than me and he would risk his life for me and there is no greater commitment I could ask of him. Lizzie is my rock and the peaceful part of my ever so hectic life, without her and my extended family I, and doubtless others, would be a mess.
"Thank you for listening to me and I hope you've learnt a little something about the Bartlet Legacy. I'll try to answer and questions you have." Sam smiled, pleased with the hands raised with questions.
TBC....