The West Wing: Season 4

After Bartlet gives a campaign speech at an Indiana farm, Josh, Toby and Donna are left behind by the presidential motorcade and must work their way across the state with the help of the farmer's daughter and, later, a teenage campaign volunteer, enduring many setbacks along the way. Josh and Toby obsess and bicker over how best to play the president's intellectualism, viewed by many as snobbery, against Republican opponent Robert Ritchie's "regular guy" persona, while Donna must keep them on track and communicate with the real Americans they encounter along the way. Back at the W.H., the president deals with a terrorist attack at an Iowa college swim meet, meets with Leo, Nancy and Fitzwallace to discuss how to handle the prospect of the U.S. and/or Israel being accused of a conspiracy in the assassination of Qumari defense minister Abdul Shareef, and interviews secretarial candidates, including a second round with Debbie Fiderer; the wandering party finally arrive at a city with an airport (presumably South Bend) and stop briefly at a nearby hotel, where they learn about the Iowa attack and Donna chastises the two men for caring only about the campaign and not the people it affects; later in the hotel bar, Josh and Toby meet a man trying to figure out how to pay his daughter's tuition to Notre Dame, and he inspires them to initiate new tax policy.

At the White House, Leo McGarry and Admiral Fitzwallace become anxious when they learn that the country of Qumar has reopened its investigation into the death of one of its officials.

Josh and Toby have a plan to make college cheaper. Leo starts talking to a lawyer about the Shareef assassination. A judicial ruling on third-party candidates has troubling implications for the campaign.

Bartlet ponders the potential consequences of ordering a strike force to overtake a barricaded gang of domestic terrorists in Iowa, one of whom is a noncombatant requiring medical attention.

While on a weekend retreat to prepare for the upcoming debates, Bartlet must also deal with an Israeli air attack on Qumar that could cause havoc in the Mideast. Meanwhile, Bartlet's staff recalls the administration's first days in office.

One day before a debate between Bartlet and his Republican rival, Governor Robert Ritchie, even skeptical Toby must admit that Bartlet is ready. After a debate rehearsal, Toby meets with his ex-wife who is advising on the campaign.

Election Day. Bartlet and staff begin counting exit poll votes across the country. In a conservative California congressional district, the results have important implications for Sam and maverick Democratic campaign manager, Will Bailey.

As the White House staffers rejoice after Bartlet's win, the outcome of a bizarre congressional race in a conservative California district provides them with a surprising idea. Toby and his ex-wife confront a difficult decision.

A 15 year old boy needs a heart and lung transplant. He also happens to be the son of the Iranian Ayatollah who is not a supporter of the Bartlet Administration.

Women's groups, by default including the majority of the First Family, react passionately as a renowned female fighter pilot is sanctioned for an affair with a junior officer. Meanwhile Sam prepares for his campaign.

Toby's estranged father appears in his office a couple of nights before Christmas. Leo and Jed find themselves trying to fix problems as well as their consciences.

A fight for Foreign Aid brings the staff together. Meanwhile Danny is uncovering evidence that is making certain members of the administration increasingly uncomfortable.

C.J. returns home to Dayton, Ohio, to speak at her high school reunion. Her visit includes an encounter with a rich and handsome classmate and the sobering realization that her father is rapidly deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease.

It is the day of Bartlet's second inauguration and yet the celebrations stutter as the staff are stunned by a betrayal in their midst.

Will struggles to find the words when the Inauguration speech seems to avoid current heart breaking issues.

En route to California to support Sam's troubled campaign for Congress, Bartlet and his staff debate whether or not to announce a controversial tax plan that might damage Sam's chances in conservative Orange County.

Bartlet waits tensely for the results of a military strike intended to rescue three captive American soldiers in Africa. Meanwhile, Toby tries to help Sam's California congressional campaign, and Josh clashes with Abby.

Amy is challenged and tormented from all sides in her first day as Chief of Staff to the First Lady. Her first task is to prove that Abbey's relative was a privateer and not a pirate. And a glacier melts!

At the end of an 18-hour return trip from Manila, as Air Force One is about to begin its descent into Andrews Air Force Base, a cockpit indicator light leads the crew to believe that the landing gear might not be locked down.

After a gunman fires three shots at the White House, the staff remains on lockdown. Meanwhile, Bartlet negotiates the return of a downed spy plane. Josh interviews a candidate, Joe Quincy (guest star Matthew Perry), for associate counsel.

On his first day on the job, the new deputy counsel uncovers a trail of clues to a scandal that will end one person's career.

The assassination of Shareef threatens to become public, the president speaks at Zoe's graduation, and the unthinkable happens.

In the wake of his daughter's kidnapping, Bartlet must make a decision between being a father and being President.