Opposition Research
Encyclopedia
"Opposition Research" is episode 121 of The West Wing
.
Alan Alda
, Stockard Channing
, Dulé Hill
, Allison Janney
, Mary McCormack
, and John Spencer
do not appear in this episode.
starts up his presidential campaign in New Hampshire
, where he and Josh
immediately disagree on campaign philosophy. Santos is keen to expound his policy on education, but Josh wants to go slower, and let the voters get to know him. Josh takes Santos to a garbage dump to help people toss out their garbarge whilst talking about his campaign. Santos is, however, resistant to all this "hand shaking". The press are closely following events in New Hampshire, and actually believe this campaign is a ploy on Josh's part to garner more votes for Hoynes, as Santos is such a rank outsider. Will Bailey
is busy with Russell's campaign, and asks Josh about running a clean campaign between Russell and Santos and engineers a reunion between Josh and new Russell campaign staffer Donna
.
Josh speaks to Elizabeth Bartlet
and tries to recruit help from Bartlet's son-in-law, but this fails miserably. However, Bartlet gives Josh a very helpful pointer about voters in New Hampshire, and Liz contributes $2000 to the Santos campaign, which, when it is made public, is as good as an endorsement from the President.
The whole episode explores the relationship between Josh and Santos, and how they are going to have to work together for Santos to win this campaign as Toby advised Josh to "have the talk" with the candidate. As Josh tells him "I gave up everything for this!" But Santos feels uncomfortable in New Hampshire. The episode ends on a positive note as one of the Santos aides tell Josh excitedly that both Hoynes and Russell have started making education an important issue.
The "opposition research" of the title refers to the work Josh has hired Joey Lucas
to do in order to garner information about the other candidates. However, Santos expressly asked Josh not to do this. He is annoyed that Josh went behind his back, but Josh tells him quietly that he was, in fact, getting background information on Santos himself.
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...
.
Alan Alda
Alan Alda
Alphonso Joseph D'Abruzzo , better known as Alan Alda, is an American actor, director, screenwriter, and author. A six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe Award winner, he is best known for his role as Hawkeye Pierce in the TV series M*A*S*H...
, Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing
Stockard Channing is an American stage, film and television actress. She is known for her portrayal of First Lady Abbey Bartlet in the NBC television series The West Wing; for playing Betty Rizzo in the film Grease; and for her role as Ouisa Kittredge in the play Six Degrees of Separation and its...
, Dulé Hill
Dulé Hill
Karim Dulé Hill is an American actor and tap dancer. He is best known for his roles as personal presidential aide Charlie Young on the NBC drama television series The West Wing, and as pharmaceutical salesman-private detective Burton "Gus" Guster on the USA Network television comedy-drama Psych...
, Allison Janney
Allison Janney
Allison Brooks Janney is an American actress, best known for her role as C.J. Cregg on the television series The West Wing.- Personal life :...
, Mary McCormack
Mary McCormack
Mary Catherine McCormack is an American actress. Best known for her work in television, she has had leading roles as Justine Appleton in the series Murder One , as Deputy National Security Adviser Kate Harper in The West Wing and as Mary Shannon in In Plain Sight .Her film roles include Private...
, and John Spencer
John Spencer (actor)
John Spencer was an American film and television actor. He was most widely known for playing White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry on the NBC political drama series The West Wing, which earned him an Emmy Award in 2002.-Early life:Spencer was born as John Speshock, Jr. in New York City, and...
do not appear in this episode.
Plot
Candidate Matt SantosMatt Santos
Matthew Vincente "Matt" Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. His initial appearance is as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Houston, Texas. According to West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie, Santos was based on the then...
starts up his presidential campaign in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, where he 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...
immediately disagree on campaign philosophy. Santos is keen to expound his policy on education, but Josh wants to go slower, and let the voters get to know him. Josh takes Santos to a garbage dump to help people toss out their garbarge whilst talking about his campaign. Santos is, however, resistant to all this "hand shaking". The press are closely following events in New Hampshire, and actually believe this campaign is a ploy on Josh's part to garner more votes for Hoynes, as Santos is such a rank outsider. Will Bailey
Will Bailey
William "Will" Bailey, is a fictional character played by Joshua Malina on the television serial drama The West Wing, holding various posts in the White House Office of Communications, Office of the Vice President and a backbencher Congressman .-Character biography:Will grew up in Belgium, as his...
is busy with Russell's campaign, and asks Josh about running a clean campaign between Russell and Santos and engineers a reunion between Josh and new Russell campaign staffer 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...
.
Josh speaks to Elizabeth Bartlet
Elizabeth Bartlet
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Anne Bartlet Westin is a fictional character played by Annabeth Gish on the television serial drama The West Wing. Elizabeth is the oldest of President Josiah Bartlet and Abbey Bartlet's three daughters.She is a married mother of two—daughter Annie and son Gus. Her husband is...
and tries to recruit help from Bartlet's son-in-law, but this fails miserably. However, Bartlet gives Josh a very helpful pointer about voters in New Hampshire, and Liz contributes $2000 to the Santos campaign, which, when it is made public, is as good as an endorsement from the President.
The whole episode explores the relationship between Josh and Santos, and how they are going to have to work together for Santos to win this campaign as Toby advised Josh to "have the talk" with the candidate. As Josh tells him "I gave up everything for this!" But Santos feels uncomfortable in New Hampshire. The episode ends on a positive note as one of the Santos aides tell Josh excitedly that both Hoynes and Russell have started making education an important issue.
The "opposition research" of the title refers to the work Josh has hired Joey Lucas
Joey Lucas
Josephine "Joey" Lucas, is a fictional character on the television serial drama The West Wing, a California-based pollster and political operative played by Marlee Matlin...
to do in order to garner information about the other candidates. However, Santos expressly asked Josh not to do this. He is annoyed that Josh went behind his back, but Josh tells him quietly that he was, in fact, getting background information on Santos himself.