"…Leadership is saying that the White House is gearing up for a radical new agenda."

CJ chuckled. "I can say with some certainty that the White House's recent push is entirely about ensuring that we do our part in performing the work of the nation. I would remind you that later this week begins a two-week adjournment for Easter and so that Congress can spend time with their families. The President and his staff don't want to appear unsympathetic towards this. That's all that this is about."

She looked around. "Okay. Anything else?"

Although there were several noises and voices in the background, no one had any questions. "Okay, then. I do have one more announcement. At 4:00 this afternoon, there will a press conference in the East Room. The President will be there to talk about something that has personal importance the President and the First Family. He will take some questions. There will also be others who may answer related questions."

There was a sudden clamoring. "CJ!. CJ! Any word on what the press conference is about?"

"I'm sorry, Katie. Except what I just told you, you'll have to wait until 4:00."

"This doesn't have anything to do with the questions that have been asked on the hill?"

CJ considered that for a moment with a small smile. The Press Corps was struck by the fact that she seemed amused. "I don't know, really. I guess arguments could be made either way. You'll just have to find out at 4:00."

Leo walked out into the bullpen area to see what was happening. He saw Congresswoman Wyatt walk into Toby's office. He moved closer to inspect the nearby workstations – not to eavesdrop of course; never that.

"Okay, Toby. What the hell is going on?" Andy Wyatt asked her ex-husband.

"Well, hello, Congresswoman Wyatt. I'm doing fine. How are you this fine day?" Toby replied with aplomb.

Leo grinned as he could almost hear the growl in Andy's response. "Cut the crap, Toby. I'm 6 months pregnant, my feet hurt, and the Minority Leadership begged me to come over to find out what the hell this press conference is all about because all their getting is stonewalled."

There was a pause and Leo could almost hear the laugh in Toby's voice as he replied. "I don't know. According to the Press Conference, the President is going to speak about a matter of personal importance to the first family." Even Leo noticed the different emphasis.

Andy's next question was a little more calm. "You know what this is about?"

"I believe I do."

"You can't tell me?"

Toby sighed. "If it were up to me? Yeah. I'd tell you. To be perfectly honest, I – and the rest of the senior staff – were blindsided with it yesterday. We were invited to a Bartlett Family Meeting because many members feel close friendship with us. If I had been asked, or if the President or the First Lady had been the one calling the family meeting, you probably would have been invited. However, neither of these things were the case. And so … I can't say anything more."

Andy paused and then asked, "So, the Republican Leadership and members running around like a chickens with their heads come off?"

Toby's amusement could clearly be heard as he replied, "We've got nothing to do with what might be upsetting the Republicans on the hill."

"And so the Democrats should …"

"Oh, I don't know … eat popcorn and watch?" There was a pause. "Maybe with small, smug smiles to see what reaction that causes. But I don't think it's the White House's job to speculate on what Members of Congress should be doing."

Leo's smirk was going full bore. He decided to step into the doorway. "Hello, Congresswoman Wyatt! Fancy seeing you here. How can the White House help you today?"

Andy looked at Leo's smirk and paused. "I don't know. I have to give a message to Minority Leadership in half and hour."

Leo pretended to consider that. "Well, can you call them to give your message?"

"Probably."

"Well, why don't you go and do that … and I'll see if the First Lady might have time to say hello to an old friend. How might that be?"

Andy stood up with a smile on her face. "Why don't I go make those phone calls while you check to see if she wants to say hello."

"I'll do that!" Toby and Leo grinned at each other.

Donna walked into Josh's office. "Oh my god. The phone's are going crazy! I have all kinds of calls from the Hill. Should I put any through?"

Josh considered that with a small smirk. "Senator Royce, Representative Skinner … and Representative Didion. The President likes him. If Haffley, Wendt, or Layton call, check with me." Depends if I feel like pulling their chains. Josh suddenly grinned. "The Republicans are in chaos and all we've been doing is our job. I'm having fun today."

Donna was really curious but none of the assistants had been told anything, except that it's not what they think, it's nothing bad, and they should have fun watching the Republican's scurry. The assistants were freaking out a little bit because all of the Senior Staff seemed quite happy, but were otherwise calm.

Leo was once again, after escorting Andy to the Residence, walking around the West Wing checking out the job his people were doing. Josh suddenly motioned Leo over to his office. He picked up the phone and motioned Donna and Leo to listen.

"Senator Royce! This is Josh Lyman. How can I help you today?" Josh sounded really cheerful. After a pause Josh replied, "Oh. Just working on normal things. Budget. Upcoming legislation. The usual."

Leo was smirking as he watched. Donna was amazed – Josh was NEVER this calm.

"Oh. Just having a good day. You know how it is – some days you just feel like things are going your way."

Josh's smirk took on that look – the look Donna recognized as a tale of civic responsibility and Leo recognized as pure political acumen. "You alone? Can we talk privately – your word of honor? Yeah, I'll hold."

Josh put his hand over the mouth piece. "Royce has been a good guy to us. I'm going to make a point to him while doing nothing for most of the Republican Leadership. You okay with that?"

Leo nodded. Donna was intrigued.

Royce thoughtfully sat down his phone and considered what he had just been told. For one day, he'd play Lyman's game. If only because the personal promises he had just been given. Robert Royce was, at times, quite tired of lefty/righty politics and if this could pull things back toward the center, he was all for it. If Josh was lying – well, Senator Robert Royce could be quite vindictive.

Royce stood up and walked to his door. Walken, Haffley, Mosely and Arkin were all waiting expectantly. He opened his mouth and set his course with his first words. "According to Lyman, they are working on normal things. There are some spending items that he is working on getting cut to help balance the budget. As far as the Press Conference goes, I was told not to worry about it."

Robert Royce said this with a solemn voice.

Just as Josh had predicted, the leadership of the Republican Party started going nuts. Wild theories and extreme contingencies were discussed as well as what the Democrats were so secretive about. It would obviously be devastating to their side because all reports from the West Wing indicated that the Senior Staff and the President seemed ecstatic. Also, all of a sudden the Democratic Leadership and members were suddenly very calm and very confident.

The Representatives and Senators all disbursed to go whip up the other members of the House and Senate.

Royce watched them go, while thinking all the while about what he had been told.

"Senator Royce? Can I call you Bob for this? Thanks.

"Bob, in this particular case I can promise you on the graves of my grandparents, who were Auschwitz survivors, that what is happening has absolutely NOTHING to do with a legislative agenda, the Democratic or Republican parties, or anything that in any way could negatively effect the your fellow Congressmen on either side, unless they react with extreme prejudice on a matter that has absolutely NOTHING to do with politics."

"I see."

"I know you don't – but in this case I'm being 100% honest and not dissembling at all. Leo McGarry is listening in to my side. He knows what's going on. Donna Moss, whose family is all Republican other than her is also listening in. She DOESN'T know what's going on. NONE of the assistants other than the President's personal secretary know what's happening and they're all more curious than you are.

"I can promise you that after the Press Conference, the more level-headed members of your party, hell both parties, are going to be regretting spending so much time and effort for something that had absolutely nothing to do with them. You're guys have been chasing smoke and it's the most fun we've had in months. But we can't make political hay about what's going on. So this one day of watching you guys go crazy is all the fun we're going to get out of this. And the President isn't even getting that out of it – he's concentrating on what this is REALLY all about.

Royce considered that and then asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"Extreme members are going to be talking conspiracy and a whole lot of other nonsense which, I can tell you now, will be completely unfounded. The President found out yesterday. He's telling the American people today. And it's not political at all."

"After things have calmed down tonight, can you remind the members of your Leadership in both houses that having such poor communication lines into the White House that such a non-issue caused you to waste hundreds of hours might not be such a good idea?

"Let's be honest, every one of us is trying to do what we think is right. Whether we agree on what's right or not is immaterial. That's why we've had compromise for over 200 years. So that the job gets done even when the people involved hate each other.

"I'm really tired of spending so much time on political maneuvering that nothing gets done. Good and workable legislation gets killed because party leaders want to stick it to the other guy. That Chesapeake Bay Cleanup we were working on? The Leadership on my side got pissed 'cause I was working with a Republican who was vulnerable. Your leadership was just as mad. It was a GOOD piece of legislation.

"I'd rather have seen Chesapeake get cleaned up so that my kids could go visit and swimming in it when I eventually get around to having them. I was pushing a bill proposed by a Republican. But because of politics, it's never going to happen. Don't you agree that it's gone a bit too far?"

Robert Royce, Republican Senator from the Great State of Pennsylvania could only sigh and agree. "Yes. It's gone too far."

"After the Press Conference happens and people get crazy for a while, and after the Spring break, can you suggest to the Leadership that there's over 3 years until the next election and Bartlett can't be elected again? And maybe we should spend some time on getting things done?"

Royce nodded. "Okay. If you're right about Press Conference, I'll do it. Maybe embarrassment on this scale is the only way."

"Thanks, Bob. Here's hoping neither one of us regrets this."

"Here's to the future." There was a pause. "Maybe we'll get another Republican to bring that cleanup back to the table if you can get the President to sign off."

Royce could almost hear Josh smile as he replied, "I'd go along with it."

"Goodbye, Josh."

Bob Royce hated when the Democrats were the rational ones.