The Indians in the Lobby
Encyclopedia
"The Indians in the Lobby" is the 51st episode of The West Wing
.
and the President
is rather disgruntled that the family must spend Thanksgiving at Camp David
, rather than his New Hampshire
farm, because a poll suggests that Americans would prefer that the President spend the holiday at Camp David. Although the President has told Bruno that he and the family are "off limits," Bruno tells the President that they cannot afford to lose even a small advantage with the voters on any issue.
An underlying Thanksgiving storyline revolves around Bartlet's affirmation that stuffing
should be cooked inside the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner
. This results in one of the more comical moments of the series in which the President telephones the Butterball
Turkey Talk-Line. (Referred to in the episode as the "Butterball Hotline.") Not wanting to reveal his true identity, he claims to be a citizen named Joe Bethersonton of 11454 Pruder Street, Apt. 23-R, Fargo, North Dakota
, 50504.
Meanwhile, two Native Americans
of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community
are encamped in the lobby. C.J.
is told to make the problem go away. She is waiting to go home, and is initially dismissive of them — a young, articulate woman and an older man. Eventually, however, she warms to their cause
and promises action on several issues. Leo
refuses to see them as they are camped in the lobby, and C.J. comes up with a compromise to which they finally agree.
Josh
is busy sorting out the problems caused by a young boy who shot his teacher, and who was then assisted by his parents to escape to Rome
. Now, Josh needs to get him extradited but the Italians
are not keen on returning him to Georgia
as the state practices capital punishment
. Sam deals with a new economic formula for poverty that will classify millions of Americans as below the margin of being impoverished.
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...
.
Plot
It is the day before ThanksgivingThanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
and 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...
is rather disgruntled that the family must spend Thanksgiving at Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
, rather than his 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...
farm, because a poll suggests that Americans would prefer that the President spend the holiday at Camp David. Although the President has told Bruno that he and the family are "off limits," Bruno tells the President that they cannot afford to lose even a small advantage with the voters on any issue.
An underlying Thanksgiving storyline revolves around Bartlet's affirmation that stuffing
Stuffing
In cooking, stuffing or filling is an edible substance or mixture, often a starch, used to fill a cavity in another food item...
should be cooked inside the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner
Thanksgiving dinner
The centerpiece of contemporary Thanksgiving in the United States and Canada is a large meal, generally centered around a large roasted turkey. The majority of the dishes in the...
. This results in one of the more comical moments of the series in which the President telephones the Butterball
Butterball
Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally — specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and...
Turkey Talk-Line. (Referred to in the episode as the "Butterball Hotline.") Not wanting to reveal his true identity, he claims to be a citizen named Joe Bethersonton of 11454 Pruder Street, Apt. 23-R, Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo, North Dakota
Fargo is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Cass County. In 2010, its population was 105,549, and it had an estimated metropolitan population of 208,777...
, 50504.
Meanwhile, two Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community
Stockbridge-Munsee Community
The Stockbridge-Munsee Community is a Federally recognized Indian tribe consisting of the Mahican and Munsee peoples. Their land-base, the Stockbridge-Munsee Indian Reservation, is located at in Shawano County, Wisconsin, in the towns of Bartelme and Red Springs.-In popular culture:In The West...
are encamped in the lobby. 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 told to make the problem go away. She is waiting to go home, and is initially dismissive of them — a young, articulate woman and an older man. Eventually, however, she warms to their cause
Dawes Act
The Dawes Act, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide the land into allotments for individual Indians. The Act was named for its sponsor, Senator Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts. The Dawes Act was amended in 1891 and again...
and promises action on several issues. 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...
refuses to see them as they are camped in the lobby, and C.J. comes up with a compromise to which they finally agree.
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...
is busy sorting out the problems caused by a young boy who shot his teacher, and who was then assisted by his parents to escape to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Now, Josh needs to get him extradited but the Italians
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
are not keen on returning him to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
as the state practices capital punishment
Capital punishment in the United States
Capital punishment in the United States, in practice, applies only for aggravated murder and more rarely for felony murder. Capital punishment was a penalty at common law, for many felonies, and was enforced in all of the American colonies prior to the Declaration of Independence...
. Sam deals with a new economic formula for poverty that will classify millions of Americans as below the margin of being impoverished.