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EPISODE

S4E23 · Twenty Five

When Bartlet learns that Zoey's kidnapping is the work of Qumari terrorists, he invokes the 25th amendment to diminish their leverage and eliminate any conflict of interest; since there's no Vice President, the power of the Presidency passes to Bartlet's chief political rival and the most powerful Republican in the country, the Speaker of the House, who immediately takes a very hard line; now that twins Huck and Molly have arrived, Toby wonders if he's capable of loving them enough.

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The story

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Plot summary

The First Family is reeling in the wake of Zoey's abduction, leading the First Lady to be sedated and the President to doubt his ability to make decisions clearly. Toby's ex-wife gives birth to twins. The staff begins to weigh the implications the tragedy will have on all their jobs and the country in general. In the episode's final moments, Bartlet realizes that he cannot act as President because he cannot make impartial judgments about what to do next, and temporarily steps down from the Presidency using the 25th Amendment.

Due to the lack of a Vice President, the iron willed conservative Republican Speaker of the House Glen Allen Walken ( John Goodman ) becomes acting president. Note: Won an Emmy for Outstanding Directing of a Drama Series. Nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Martin Sheen submitted this episode as an Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor. John Spencer submitted this episode as a nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Stockard Channing submitted this episode as a nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress.

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Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, The West Wing season 4. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.

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