Roland Pierce is a Democratic Senator on the Judiciary Committee. He is a descendant of President Franklin Pierce and the brother of an unnamed Democrat who is the father of two children, a daughter and Roland's nephew Ryan who interns for Josh Lyman. Pierce's influence prevents Josh from firing Ryan, but Pierce has a low opinion of his nephew, who begged him for two years to get him a job in the White House. He warns Josh not to trust Ryan because he is ambitious.[1]
Congressman Thiele once interned for him, and Ryan uses that connection to convince Thiele to change his vote to confirm Congressman Russell as the new vice president.[2]
Senator Pierce comes to the White House when the Bartlet Administration is considering appointing both Evelyn Baker Lang and Christopher Mulready to the Supreme Court. He is hostile to the idea, even obliquely threatening Josh, so Josh follows Ryan's suggestion to drink with him. He gets both Josh and C.J. Cregg drunk. Josh convinces Pierce that their plan is better than appointing another centrist because Chief Justice Roy Ashland is in poor health and the Democrats need a liberal to replace him on the Court.[1]
Trivia[]
- In real life, Franklin Pierce only had three sons who all died in childhood, and he has no modern descendants.
- He might be the same person as Ryan's uncle "Bunky," in which case he attended Harvard University like his brother, nephew, and niece.[3]