1x03 A Proportional Response - The West Wing Episode Guide

The West Wing

- Episode 01x03

Episode: 01x03
Title: A Proportional Response
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 225902
First Aired: Oct. 06, 1999

Season 1 » Episode #03 - A Proportional Response

The West Wing - 01x03 A Proportional Response

Summary: Still angry about an American jet being shot down in the Mideast, President Bartlet overrules a plan for a “proportional” military strike put together by the joint chiefs of staff. Bartlett wants a more severe attack, but the type of attack he wants would result in thousands of casualties. While Leo tries to cool Bartlet down, C.J. talks to Sam about the possible ramifications of his ongoing relationship with Laurie, the call girl. Meanwhile, Josh hires an African American teenager as an aide to the President.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Mandy Hampton	played by Moira Kelly
President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet	played by Martin Sheen
Percy Fitzwallace	played by John Amos
Nancy	played by Ren�e Estevez
Cathy	played by Suzy Nakamura
Dolores Landingham	played by Kathryn Joosten
Reporter Bobbi	played by Jana Lee Hamblin
Reporter #4	played by Andrew Shaifer
Floor Manager	played by Jack Montoya

	Season 1 / Episode 3: - A Proportional Response Josh Lyman: Toby's right - what's the good of being in power if you can't haul your enemies in for questioning?
	Season 1 / Episode 3: - A Proportional Response C.J. Cregg: I don't care what it is, I care what it looks like.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

CONT: Right before they introduce Charlie to the president, Sam Seaborn is wearing glasses in one shot, is without them the next, and then has them on again.

TRIVIA

The acronym BDA is used without explanation - it stands for "bomb damage assessment".
Josh calls C.J. a "shiksa feminista". "Shiksa" is a Yiddish word used to refer to a non-Jewish woman. "Feminista" is a slang word used to describe a modern feminist.
In the movie The American President (1995) (also written by Aaron Sorkin and considered the catalyst for creating this show), the president must deal with a very similar situation. In the movie, Libya bombs a US missile defense system and the president is pushed to make a "proportional response", at the end of which he ruminates "Someday someone's going to have to explain to me the virtue of a proportional response". The events are very similar to those in this episode, including that line, mirrored almost word for word by President Bartlett.