Washington – With President Joe Biden away from the White House, it was left to another man with Oval Office experience to stand at the front of the Rose Garden and give a rousing call to service.
Martin Sheen and others from the cast of “The West Wing”, the hit drama about a liberal president and his staff, were invited by first lady Jill Biden for an event to mark the 25th anniversary of the show.
Sheen exhorted the crowd to find something worth fighting for, “something deeply personal and uncompromising, something that can unite the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh.”
His voice and hands rose, his cadence matching perfectly that of President Jed Bartlet, the character Sheen played for seven seasons.
“When we find that, we will discover fire for the second time, and then we will be able to help lift up this nation and all its people to that place where the heart is without fear, and their head is held high,” Sheen said.
“The West Wing” remains a favorite of many who now work in Washington, both liberal and conservative. Among those spotted in the Rose Garden were House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Joe Walsh, once a tea party-aligned Illinois congressman who is now a sharp critic of former President Donald Trump and supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.
Asked to name his favorite character, Walsh replied: “I’m partial to Martin Sheen because I want to be president one day.” (Walsh ran and lost a longshot Republican primary challenge to Trump in 2020.)
It was clear in the speeches and the party’s touches that at least a few “West Wing” fans work in the White House.
There was the U.S. Marine Band playing the opening notes to the show’s theme as Biden and the cast walked out. There were references to “big blocks of cheese” – a show tradition of requiring staffers to meet with eccentric or off-beat characters – and the walk-and-talk dialogues in which characters moved through the halls at high speed.
Waiters passed out bourbon-and-ginger ale cocktails called “The Jackal,” a reference to press secretary C.J. Cregg’s dance and lip sync routine in one iconic episode.
After Sheen’s address, Sorkin recognized the cast members in attendance. Among them: Richard Schiff, who played communications director Toby Ziegler; Janel Moloney, who played assistant Donna Moss; and Dulé Hill, who played the president’s body man, Charlie Young.
He also noted the absence of a few high-profile actors – Allison Janney, Bradley Whitford and Rob Lowe – who he said were on set elsewhere.
“The rest of us are apparently unemployed,” he joked.
After the crowd laughed, a voice chimed in from Sorkin’s right.
“Not yet!” Jill Biden said.
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If you are a fan of “The West Wing”, you would have loved the recent event marking the 25th anniversary of the show at the White House. Martin Sheen, known for his role as President Jed Bartlet, gave an inspiring speech urging the crowd to find something worth fighting for. The event, organized by first lady Jill Biden, brought together members of the cast and fans alike.
“The West Wing” remains popular among both liberals and conservatives in Washington, with notable figures like House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul and Joe Walsh, a former tea party-aligned congressman, in attendance. The event featured nods to iconic moments from the show, including references to “big blocks of cheese” and the fast-paced walk-and-talk dialogues.
After Sheen’s speech, Aaron Sorkin, the show’s creator, acknowledged the cast members present and joked about the absence of some key actors. The atmosphere was lively and nostalgic, with cocktails inspired by the show being served and the U.S. Marine Band playing the theme song.
Overall, the event was a celebration of the lasting impact and influence of “The West Wing” on those working in politics today. It served as a reminder of the power of storytelling and art to inspire and unite people, regardless of their political beliefs.