Political Insider

February Issue

Danny Concanon.

Recently, I sat down with an old friend, former Bartlett Deputy Chief of Staff and President Santos' COS, to talk about changes. Lyman has had many changes in his life this year, both profesionally and personally. In a very rare interview about himself, I was able to ask Josh Lyman about these changes and how it feels being the man behind the man.

JL: So what are you like the fluff guy now? Weren't you that hard core political reported Danny Concanon?

DC: Ouch Josh.

JL: I'm just saying, a couple of weeks with CJ and-.

DC: I want to talk about your love life Josh not mine.

JL: Ahh yes.. my love life.

DC: Josh Lyman's off the market.

JL: Sorry ladies.

DC: You're a newlywed.

JL: Yeah I guess I am. I never really thought about it that way.

DC: Cause you and Donna have been all byt married for nine years?

JL: Except for all the good stuff.. I mean.. Thanks Danny she's going to kill me... No you know.. physical stuff.

DC: But come on Josh you two were-.

JL: Well.. I never gave her a goldfish or anything.

DC: Maybe if you had it wouldn't have taken you nine years to get laid.

JL: Ouch.

DC: Who's fluffy now?

JL: Not you.

DC: Just for the record, Donna was your assistant when you worked for Bartlett.

JL: My incredible assistant.

DC: you two never consummated your relationship while working for Bartlett?

JL: Donna and I never pursued a physical relationship while we were serving under Bartlett.

DC: Not at all? You two were so-.

JL: Nah.. Can you imagine what they would have said about us? People who don't know Donna would have questioned why she was hired.. it could have been ugly. You know?

DC: The perfect stereotype. The beautiful blonde leggy younger assistant?

JL: (Snickering) Yeah add young that helps me.

DC: You could have never taken advantage of Donna.

JL: Of course not.

DC: Anyone who has ever seen the two of you together knows she was the only one who had any control over you. She had you right where she wanted you all along.

JL: I wouldn't say-. No you're right she had me pegged from the start.

DC: Those of us who knew you and Donna would have understood.

JL: Thanks a lot Danny where were you when the mother of your illigitamate Goldfish was threatening my life?

DC: CJ threatened you? And lay off my fish.

JL: Nah CJ never said anything. It was our decision.

DC: Did you and Donna discuss it?

JL:(smirking) Not directly No.

DC: Ahh yes the infamous Moss/Lyman banter. So you and Donna never..? I always assumed you two had.

JL: You and half of Washington. Was there nothing better to do then wait for Donna and I to start making out?

DC: Come on Josh, there were office pools, secret codes and disaster plans ready to go..

JL: And you know this because your girlfriend helped create them to keep her mind off of her own 'conflict of interest'.

DC: Hey hey.. we're talking about your forbidden love not mine.

JL: Yeah it's nice to be done with all that isnt' it?

DC: The inappropriate pining?

JL: Well.. I'd have said the waiting but-.

DC: You pined Josh. I watched you pine.

JL: Donna pined. I denied.

DC: You threw snowballs at her window Josh. I was there.

JL: Okay I pined and hid it.

DC: Even from Donna?

JL: Yeah but she knew.

DC: Did you convince yourself it wasn't true?

JL: Nah.

DC: Yeah?

JL: Yeah.. come on Danny you know how it is. You knew with CJ.

DC: Yeah I knew.

JL: God I'm glad that's all over.

DC: You're damn lucky Josh.

JL: No kidding.

DC: So Baby Lyman huh?

JL: God help us all?

DC:(laughing) Something like that. Donna is going to be a fabulous mom.

JL: She's amazing isn't she?

DC: A baby's going to be a peice of cake after taking care of you.

JL: If she didn't have a nervous breakdown after taking care of me after the shooting she can handle anything.

DC: How are you health wise? You were shot in the chest in Roslyn. I know you have some long term damage.

JL: The bullet tore my pulmonary artery. The biggest concern is my blood pressure. Staying in shape, eating right it all helps in not to put undue physical stress on my heart. Donna of course shipped me off to the cardiologist after Leo's death and everything came back great.

DC: What about emotionally? You mentioned Leo McGarry's death. I know he was like a second father to you. Have the emotional side effects from Roslyn caused a problem with all the emotional highs and lows of the year?

JL: You know me Mr. Emotionally Grounded.

DC: Honestly Josh how is the PTSD?

JL: Better. I've learned how to cope with it over the years. It's been six years now since my first real episode. It can still be triggered by emotional events. I've had my fair share this year with being separated from Donna, leaving the White House, the campaign and Leo's death. That was a big test of my mental stability. He was like a father to me.

DC: Your own father died on an election night didn't he?

JL: Yes. During Bartlett's first primary election.

DC: Donna was the one who told you then?

JL: Yeah. I had her with me both times. Thank God.

DC: Did Leo's death cause an episode?

JL: No.

DC: No?

JL: I have a really great support system of friends and family who helped me through. I take medication now. I'm not saying it didn't hit me like a ton of bricks. We all were shocked and thrown off kilter of a long time afterward, but we all got up and dusted ourselves off.

DC: So this is the new Josh Lyman? Married father and COS?


JL: Josh Lyman all grown up! I've got to be there for Donna and our children.

DC: I'm speechless.

JL: Wow that's impressive.

DC: No more Deputy Downer?

JL: You have to ask my wife and the President about that one.

DC: Josh thanks for talking to me. Congratulations, you don't deserve any of this. (laughing)

JL: Any time and thank you Mr. Cregg.

DC: Funny man.

JL: So they tell me.

Danny Concanon is a former Bartlett campaign and White House correspondent. He has no retired from political life with his fiancee, former Bartlett Press Secretary and Chief of Staff, CJ Cregg. They now live in Santa Barbara California and have recently helped to found the African Road Map Project.

And just like that, there were no more secrets. Donna took a deep breath, closing the magazine and looking over at Josh still burried in his. She just hoped he'd made the right choice.