Mr. Willis of Ohio
Encyclopedia
"Mr. Willis of Ohio" is the 6th episode of The West Wing
. The title of the episode refers to the character of Mr. Willis, whose vote is essential if an amendment in census taking methodology is to pass.
as a means of taking the census, as opposed to a head count, which could be inaccurate. C.J.
is confused about the difference, and asks Sam
to teach her. The debate over the sampling amendment is also holding up the annual appropriations bill. Donna
wants to know why the government doesn't return the surplus to the taxpayers, and Josh
explains the Democratic Party's approach to extra money.
Toby meets with three Congressmen from the Republican Party; one vote from them would defeat the amendment and allow the appropriations bill to move through Congress. Among them is Mr. Willis, an African-American man from Ohio. His wife was a Congresswoman from the state, but her sudden death has placed him in the seat. The Republicans argue that the Constitution
clearly defines that a head count is necessary for a census. Toby and Mandy read that particular portion out loud, but omit several words. Mr. Willis, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, provides the missing phrase—one that demands that all free men be counted, and others be counted as "three-fifths
" of a person. Mr. Willis abruptly ends the meeting by announcing that he will vote against including the amendment, shocking his fellow Republicans. Toby asks him why, and Willis explains that it was Toby's intelligent argument that persuaded him. The amendment ends up remaining in committee, while the rest of the appropriations bill is sent for a full House vote.
Meanwhile, the President
asks Josh to take Charlie
out for a beer, as he fears his young aide does not have friends. Zoey
and Mallory tag along, inviting Sam and C.J. At the bar, Charlie feels uncomfortable, as he is not a college student. When a group of troublemakers pays unnecessary attention to Zoey, Charlie goes to her aid, only to be met with racial and homophobic abuse. Josh and Sam join him, and use Zoey's panic button to summon Secret Service
agents to arrest the youths.
When Bartlet hears about Zoey's encounter, he loses his temper and illustrates the nightmare scenario in which she goes
Zoey is stunned and scared by her father's reaction, and he apologizes. Bartlet's anger is stemming from the news that Leo
is breaking up with his wife. Bartlet makes amends with Leo, and tells him to "fix it." When Josh tells Bartlet about Charlie's willingness to defend Zoey, the President invites Charlie to join his infamous poker
game. The episode ends with the other staffers preparing to play poker, while Toby watches the vote on the appropriations bill for "one vote": Mr. Willis's.
after her death. In fact, no appointments are made to house seats. Instead, special elections are held to fill out the term. Second, at the end of the episode Toby
doesn't join in for the poker game because he wants to hear the roll call of the House vote which is discussed in the episode. In fact, there are never voice votes in the House of Representatives
; votes are normally conducted electronically.
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
. The title of the episode refers to the character of Mr. Willis, whose vote is essential if an amendment in census taking methodology is to pass.
Plot
The West Wing staffers, especially Toby, hope to defeat an amendment prohibiting population samplingSampling (statistics)
In statistics and survey methodology, sampling is concerned with the selection of a subset of individuals from within a population to estimate characteristics of the whole population....
as a means of taking the census, as opposed to a head count, which could be inaccurate. C.J.
C. J. Cregg
Claudia Jean "C. J." Cregg is a fictional character played by Allison Janney on the television serial drama The West Wing. From the beginning of the series until the sixth season, she is White House Press Secretary in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet...
is confused about the difference, and asks Sam
Sam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
to teach her. The debate over the sampling amendment is also holding up the annual appropriations bill. Donna
Donna Moss
Donnatella "Donna" Moss is a fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the television serial drama The West Wing. Donna is a recurring character during the first season, although she appears in every episode, making her a de facto regular...
wants to know why the government doesn't return the surplus to the taxpayers, and Josh
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
explains the Democratic Party's approach to extra money.
Toby meets with three Congressmen from the Republican Party; one vote from them would defeat the amendment and allow the appropriations bill to move through Congress. Among them is Mr. Willis, an African-American man from Ohio. His wife was a Congresswoman from the state, but her sudden death has placed him in the seat. The Republicans argue that the Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
clearly defines that a head count is necessary for a census. Toby and Mandy read that particular portion out loud, but omit several words. Mr. Willis, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, provides the missing phrase—one that demands that all free men be counted, and others be counted as "three-fifths
Three-fifths compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a compromise between Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the enumerated population of slaves would be counted for representation purposes regarding both the distribution of taxes and the...
" of a person. Mr. Willis abruptly ends the meeting by announcing that he will vote against including the amendment, shocking his fellow Republicans. Toby asks him why, and Willis explains that it was Toby's intelligent argument that persuaded him. The amendment ends up remaining in committee, while the rest of the appropriations bill is sent for a full House vote.
Meanwhile, the President
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
asks Josh to take Charlie
Charlie Young
Charles 'Charlie' Young is a fictional character played by Dulé Hill on the television serial drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he is the Personal Aide to President Josiah Bartlet.-Creation and development:...
out for a beer, as he fears his young aide does not have friends. Zoey
Zoey Bartlet
Zoey Patricia Bartlet is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Moss on the television serial drama The West Wing. Zoey is the youngest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters, and is more prominently featured in the series than either of her sisters.Zoey and...
and Mallory tag along, inviting Sam and C.J. At the bar, Charlie feels uncomfortable, as he is not a college student. When a group of troublemakers pays unnecessary attention to Zoey, Charlie goes to her aid, only to be met with racial and homophobic abuse. Josh and Sam join him, and use Zoey's panic button to summon Secret Service
United States Secret Service
The United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
agents to arrest the youths.
When Bartlet hears about Zoey's encounter, he loses his temper and illustrates the nightmare scenario in which she goes
[...] out to a bar or a party in some club, and you get up to go to the restroom, somebody comes up from behind, puts their hand across your mouth, and whisks you out the back door. You're so petrified, you don't even notice the bodies of the two Secret Service agents lying on the ground with bullet holes in their heads, then you're whisked away in a car. It's a big party with lots of noise, and lots of people coming and going, and it's a half hour before someone says "hey, where's Zoey?" [...] this country no longer has a Commander in Chief, it has a father who's out of his mind because his little girl is in a shack somewhere in Uganda with a gun to her head!
Zoey is stunned and scared by her father's reaction, and he apologizes. Bartlet's anger is stemming from the news that Leo
Leo McGarry
Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
is breaking up with his wife. Bartlet makes amends with Leo, and tells him to "fix it." When Josh tells Bartlet about Charlie's willingness to defend Zoey, the President invites Charlie to join his infamous poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
game. The episode ends with the other staffers preparing to play poker, while Toby watches the vote on the appropriations bill for "one vote": Mr. Willis's.
Inconsistencies
There are two points in this episode where the function of the US government as portrayed doesn't match reality. The first is the implied (but not overtly stated) appointment of Mr. Willis to his wife's seat in the House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
after her death. In fact, no appointments are made to house seats. Instead, special elections are held to fill out the term. Second, at the end of the episode Toby
Toby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
doesn't join in for the poker game because he wants to hear the roll call of the House vote which is discussed in the episode. In fact, there are never voice votes in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
; votes are normally conducted electronically.