1x07 The State Dinner - The West Wing Episode Guide

The West Wing

- Episode 01x07

Episode: 01x07
Title: The State Dinner
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 225906
First Aired: Nov. 10, 1999

Season 1 » Episode #07 - The State Dinner

Summary: With a state dinner in honor of an Indonesian president drawing closer, President Bartlet must deal with several problems including an FBI hostage standoff, a nearing category 4 hurricane, and a potential teamsters union strike. Meanwhile, the First Lady prepares to host the dinner, a reporter flirts with C.J., and Sam is surprised when he spots his call girl friend in attendance at the dinner.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

Mandy Hampton	played by Moira Kelly
President Josiah 'Jed' Bartlet	played by Martin Sheen
Brittany 'Laurie' Rollins	played by Lisa Edelstein
Danny Concannon	played by Timothy Busfield
Carl	played by David Rasche
Seymour Little	played by John Kapelos
Rahmadi Sumahidjo Bambang	played by Peter Kors
High Rank FBI Officer	played by Sal Landi
Chafey	played by Sal Landi

Season 1 / Episode 7: - The State Dinner

Donna Moss: I'm not wild about this whole Indonesian business.
Josh Lyman: What's the problem?
Donna Moss: I've been doing some reading on my own.
Josh Lyman: Oh, I wish you wouldn't do that.
Donna Moss: Why?
Josh Lyman: Because you tend to call some bizarre factoid from a less-than-reputable source and then you blow it all out of proportion.
Donna Moss: I do not.
Josh Lyman: Donna...
Donna Moss: I just thought you might like to know that in certain parts of Indonesia, they summarily execute people they suspect of being sorcerers.
Josh Lyman: What?
Donna Moss: I read it.
Josh Lyman: They... summarily execute people they suspect of being sorcerers?
Donna Moss: They behead them.
Josh Lyman: Sorcerers.
Donna Moss: Gangs of roving people. Beheading those they suspect of being sorcerers. With, you know... what's that thing that Death carries?
Josh Lyman: A scythe.
Donna Moss: They're doing it with a scythe.
Josh Lyman: Well, thanks for the head's up.
Donna Moss: I just thought you might like to know who's coming over for dinner.
Josh Lyman: You bet.

Season 1 / Episode 7: - The State Dinner

C.J. Cregg: When you flirt with me, are you doing it to get a story?
Danny Concannon: No.
C.J. Cregg: Why are you doing it?
Danny Concannon: I'm doing it to flirt with you.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

CHAR: President Bartlett threatens the striking truck workers that he would nationalize the trucking industry to avert the strike, using the precedent that Truman did it in 1952 to avert the coal mines. Truman actually seized the steel mills and his seizure was ruled unconstitutional in the Supreme court case Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer.
FACT: Laurie, Sam's friend who is a call girl, is brought to the White House State Dinner by a major contributor. While the fact that he is a major contributor would help, the Secret Service would have run background checks on anyone who was invited to the White House and would potentially meet the President. Laurie was introduced as "Brittany" by the contributor, but would not have been admitted into the White House under a pseudonym. Additionally, Laurie says that she is told by the contributor what to wear but does not know where she's going until the "date". However, with the background check, Laurie would have had to provide certain information (likely birth date and social security number) in advance, something that her client would likely *not* have available for her.

TRIVIA

Stockard Channing had only just met Martin Sheen and established that their two characters had three daughters when she shot her first scene with him.