Plot
At Zoey Bartlet's birthday party, magicians Penn & Teller appear to burn an American flag in the White House, prompting a publicity nightmare which Josh has to deal with. Aboard Air Force One, Bartlet is stricken by a paralyzing MS episode which incapacitates him and the Surgeon General assists him, while Josh Lyman is approached to run Vice President Russell's presidential campaign.
Senator Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) is introduced in the episode. Josh offers him the post of Ambassador to the United Nations but he tells Josh he plans to seek the Republican nomination for President. Josh and former White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry reveal concern that Vinick, as an articulate and appealing centrist, offered the Republicans a real chance to win back the White House after Democrat Bartlet's two terms and Democratic Governor Eric Baker had dropped out of the presidential nomination race due to family reasons. However, both Josh and Leo wondered if Vinick was conservative enough to win the Republican nomination.
The episode ends with President Bartlet entering the press area of Air Force One for a press conference, in a wheelchair.
Read more about this topic: In The Room
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