The West Wing (TV Series)

Pilot (1999)

Martin Sheen: President Josiah Bartlet

Photos 

Quotes 

• President Josiah Bartlet : May I have some coffee, Mr. Louis? Al, how many times have I asked you to denounce the practices of a fringe group that calls itself the Lambs of God?

  Rev. Al Caldwell : Sir, that's not up to me.

  President Josiah Bartlet : Crap! It is up to you, Al. You know, my wife Abby, she never wants me to do anything when I'm upset.

  [takes coffee] 

  President Josiah Bartlet : Thank you, Mr. Louis. Twenty-eight years ago, I came home from a very bad day at the statehouse, I tell Abby I'm going out for a drive. I get in the station wagon, put it in reverse, and pulled out of the garage full speed. Except, I forgot to open the garage door! Abby told me not to drive while I was upset, and she was right. She was right yesterday when she told me not to get on that damned bicycle while I was upset, but I did it anyway. And I guess I was just about as angry as I've ever been in my life. Seems my granddaughter Annie had given an interview to one of those teen magazines, and somewhere between movie stars and make-up tips, she talked about her feelings on a woman's right to choose. Now Annie, all of twelve, has always been precocious but she's got a good head on her shoulders, and I like it when she uses it. So I couldn't understand it when her mother called me in tears yesterday. I said "Elizabeth, what's wrong?" She said "It's Annie." Now, I love my family, and I've read my Bible from cover to cover, so I want you to tell me, from what part of Holy Scripture do you suppose the Lambs of God drew their divine inspiration when they sent my twelve-year-old granddaughter a Raggedy Anne Doll with a knife stuck through its throat?

  [Faces Al Caldwell] 

  President Josiah Bartlet : You'll denounce these people, Al, you'll do it publicly, and until you do, you can all get your fat asses out of my White House. C.J., show these people out.

  Mary Marsh : I believe we can find the door.

  President Josiah Bartlet : Find it now.

• John Van Dyke : If our children can buy pornography on any street corner for five dollars, isn't that too high a price to pay for free speech?

  President Josiah Bartlet : No.

  John Van Dyke : Really?

  President Josiah Bartlet : On the other hand, I think that five dollars is too high a price to pay for pornography.

• John Van Dyke : The First Commandment says "Honor thy father."

  Toby Ziegler : No it doesn't.

  Josh Lyman : Toby...

  Toby Ziegler : It doesn't!

  Josh Lyman : Listen...

  Toby Ziegler : No! If I'm going to make you sit through this preposterous exercise, we're going to get the names of the damn commandments right.

  Mary Marsh : Okay. Here we go.

  Toby Ziegler : "Honor thy father" is the Third Commandment.

  John Van Dyke : Then what's the First Commandment?

  President Josiah Bartlet : "I am the Lord your God. Thou shalt worship no other god before me." Boy, those were the days, huh?

• [President Bartlet's first line] 

  President Josiah Bartlet : "I am the Lord your God, thou shalt worship no other god before me." Boy, those were the days, huh?

• President Josiah Bartlet : Mrs. Landingham, what's next?

• President Josiah Bartlet : With the clothes on their backs, they came through a storm. And those that didn't die want a better life. And they want it here. Talk about impressive. My point is this: break's over.