Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies

Aaron Sorkin’s classic political procedural which ran for 7 seasons. In this pilot episode, the West Wing staffers are introduced as each learns that the President was in a cycling accident. Josh faces the possible loss of his job after an on-air insult of a political opponent, which Toby tries to prevent by having Josh make a personal apology. Sam ineptly lectures a class of 4th-graders about the White House and then asks their teacher which child is Leo’s daughter. Leo must deal with 137 Cuban refugees who escaped on rafts and are seeking asylum. The president walks in during Josh’s apology, recites the First Commandment, and lambastes three Christian pols for not denouncing a fringe group.

Facilitated by
Stephanie Kelley-Romano, Professor and Chair of Rhetoric, Film and Screen Studies

Download PDF Flyer
Sponsored by Rhetoric, Film and Screen Studies