The line said by Senate Minority Leader Tripplehorn, "I'd like you to be for me, Josh. Not because you're good at what you do, but because of your beliefs," was originally said to writer Eli Attie by real-life Democratic House Minority leader Dick Gephardt (Richard Gephardt).
Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford ) calls Donna Moss (Janel Moloney ) "Lulu" after the film To Sir, with Love (1967), Sidney Poitier was actually one of the first choices to play President Jed Bartlet, but his fee was considered far too high so he didn't get the role and it went to Martin Sheen.
This was the second of only three episodes to not have a writing credit for Aaron Sorkin during the first four seasons, the others being season one's Enemies (1999) and season four's The Long Goodbye (2003).
For the scene when Josh (Bradley Whitford) goes to Capitol Hill to visit the Minority Leader (Senator Tripplehorn (Geoff Pierson)), the filming location is actually Los Angeles City Hall.
The joke "He doesn't want the best, he wants you" has been adapted for use in Sorkin's show Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.