Chapter 14

"I call William Sanderson to the stand."

The Bartlet's personal attorney walked to the stand and took his oath.

"Mr. Sanderson, tell the jury how long you have known the Bartlet family."

"For twenty years, I have handled their local legal and financial affairs."

"Please describe President's Bartlet's estate."

"President and Mrs. Bartlet have a total personal value of 3.5 million dollars. Most of it is in real estate, stocks and bonds. The President's Will left small bequests to his children and to several groups, but three million was left directly to Mrs. Bartlet."

"Thank you, Mr. Sanderson. Who was the President's health guardian?"

"Mrs. Bartlet."

"Did you ever have any conversations with Mrs. Bartlet on the President's health?"

"I'm sorry, that's attorney-client privilege."

"Did you any personal conversations with Mrs. Bartlet on the President's health?"

"Yes."

Abbey suddenly realized where this questioning was heading. She shifted in the seat, dreading what Bill was going to say.

"Were you aware that the President was terminal?"

"Yes. Both the President and Mrs. Bartlet told me that on separate occasions. I watched the President's health decline rapidly over his last few months and I visited the farm frequently to offer my support."

"At any time, did Mrs. Bartlet seem agitated or upset over the President's treatment from hospice?"

"No."

"Thank you. Ms. Sawyer, your turn."

"Mr. Sanderson, are you aware of Mrs. Bartlet's earnings when she was practicing surgery?"

"Yes. As a thoracic surgeon at the top of her field in the eighties, she was earning four hundred thousand dollars a year."

"And how much did President Bartlet earn prior to becoming President?"

"As governor of New Hampshire, he earned one hundred twenty-five thousand a year."

"Mr. Sanderson, does Mrs. Bartlet have the same high earning potential if she went back to practicing surgery?"

"Yes."

"Who has earned the most money over the past twenty years, President or Mrs. Bartlet?"

"Mrs. Bartlet."

"One final question. Did you have a conversation with Mrs. Bartlet a couple months ago about her actions?"

"I did."

"Was it a personal or professional conversation?"

"Personal."

"Please tell the court what Mrs. Bartlet said to you about this case."

"She said that there was no way she would do such a thing. She also said that his pain relief through hospice was satisfactory."

Abbey smiled. Now there was someone else to support her story.

"No further questions."

The DA stood up. "Follow-up question, your Honor."

"Go Ahead."

"Mr. Sanderson, at the time of that conversation did she made an additional comment to you? And I remind you that you are still under oath."

"Yes."

Abbey gasped as she remembered what she said to Bill in what she thought was a privileged conversation.

Bowing his head as he spoke, Bill replied, "She admitted to me that she had given the President the extra morphine. She said she did it."

"I object, your Honor. Heresay is not allowed."

"Objection overruled. Continue Mr. Short."

"No further questions."

The DA called his next witness.

"I call Dr. Robert Nolan to the stand."