“I had never thought of doing television. But my agent wanted me to meet John Wells, who had had a lot of success producing ER and China Beach. The night before the meeting, some friends were over for dinner and Akiva Goldsman and I slipped downstairs to the basement so we could sneak a cigarette. He said, "You know what would make a good television series? That." And he was pointing at The American President poster. He said, "There doesn't have to be a romance, just focus on a senior staffer."” RomanceNightPresidentFocusMeetingsBeachCigaretteSeniorPointingPostersSneakAmerican President Author:Aaron Sorkin
“I'd been concerned all along that the character of the president in the West Wing pilot would throw the ensemble out of whack, that that character would simply take up all the oxygen in a room. I wanted to hold off bringing this character in until the last possible moment.” MomentsCharacterPresidentConcerned Author:Aaron Sorkin
“I do enjoy the fact that we don't have a king or queen; we have a person with a very unusual temp job for a few years. My favorite moments on the show were always showing the intersection of the person and the job. Any time Bartlet from the West Wing could be something other than the president - a father, or a husband, or a son, or a friend.” MomentsFatherEnjoyPresidentSonHusbandMy FavoriteUnusual Author:Aaron Sorkin
“Mrs. Landingham, does the President have free time this morning? The President has nothing but free time, Toby. Right now he's in the residence eating Cheerios and enjoying Regis and Kathie Lee. Should I get him for you? Sarcasm's a disturbing thing coming from a woman of your age, Mrs. Landingham. What age would that be, Toby? Late twenties? Atta boy.” ShouldDoeAgeEnjoyPresidentBoysMorningRight NowLateEatingTwentiesSarcasmShould IDisturbingFree TimeResidenceTobyLate TwentiesDisturbing Things Author:Aaron Sorkin
“President Bartlet: There's a delegation of cardiologists having their pictures taken in the Blue Room. You wouldn't think you could find a group of people more arrogant than the fifteen of us, but there they are, right upstairs in the Blue Room.” PeopleThinkingPresidentRoomsTakenGroupsBlueArrogantFifteenUpstairsDelegationPicture TakenCardiologist Author:Aaron Sorkin
