Season: 1
Episode: 22
Title: What Kind of Day Has It Been
Aired: May 17, 2000
Written by: Aaron Sorkin
Directed by: Thomas Schlamme
Summary
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) prepares for a town hall meeting with college students at Zoey's (Elizabeth Moss) university while the U.S. military races to find a downed American pilot in the Iraqi desert before the Iraqi military captures him. C.J. (Allison Janney) doesn't relish the notion of misleading the press over rescue preparations.
Likewise, Toby (Richard Schiff) tries to ignore updates from the distressed orbiting space shuttle which includes his estranged brother, a payload specialist aboard the craft which cannot close its cargo doors.
Meanwhile, Josh (Bradley Whitford) is sent to convince wayward Vice President Hoynes (Tim Matheson) to re-think his position on campaign finance reform, which leads to an illuminating conversation detailing what might have happened had Josh stayed on Hoynes' campaign team instead of joining Bartlet's.
At the close of the President's town hall meeting, the staff, Bartlet and Zoey are making their way to the motorcade when shots ring out. As the episode ends, we are unaware who, if anyone, has been hit.
Quotes:
"I wasn't lying to the press on Pakistan India, I was lied to by you which made me look like an idiot."- CJ Cregg
Well, I'm not lying to you now. . . ," - Leo McGarry
"We're going to pay a price for misleading the press."- CJ Cregg