It started in 1999, but for some reason I didn't catch on until mid 2005 just how great the show was. I can only surmise that I wasn't very political during my middle years at highschool and therefore hated political shows. Makes perfect sense...but I was missing out on the drama, the sharp, whitty dialogue, and the memorable characters.
However, I was soon sent down the right path by my roommate, who had become engrossed in the show during the previous months leading up to the beginning of my own addiction. Once, upon finishing a cliff-hanger of a season finale, I actually witnessed him foaming at the month while frantically searching for a rental store that had Season two of the West Wing in stock, and that would be open at 1 am.
While his target remained out of reach that night, as dusk turned to early dawn, he eventually watched the series up to the point where it was airing on NBC. In May he went home to work, while I stayed here in Ottawa, with little to do after work during the week. So, one hot night, since I didn't feel like moving and the seasons were directly in front of me...I watched the first episode. That turned into watching the first disc, which then snowballed into watching the first season in two nights.
I didn't get much sleep, but I didn't care because I was living out those hours with smart, animated characters, albeit fictional, but nonetheless worth watching. And over the course of my nightly West Wing feasts, I began to look up to one character in particular. He always knew what to say, but didn't live in an ivory tower...
This person my friends, was Leo McGarry, the man behind the man. For those casual glancers, he was a meek old man in a suit, but for those who knew him and loved him, he was a brillant political mind with the heart of a lion. He scarificed his marriage for the job of Chief of Staff, and on most nights, many hours of sleep. On-lookers watched in awe as he helped mold the plot to assassinate Defense Minister Shariff of Qumar, and we winced when he suffered a heart attack that rendered him unable to continue as President Bartlett's COS.
He would not stay down however, the end of season six saw him rally to become the Democratic candidate for Vice-President, sharing the ticket with Congressman Matt Santos. Currently, the seventh season is heating up with new edge-of-your-seat, hightly political shows, as the plot jobs back and forth from the White House, to the campaigne trail. The highs, the lows, we have been taken on quite a ride thusfar.
I take this time to thank the man that gave Leo McGarry depth and illuminated him in ways no other actor could. On December 16, 2005, actor John Spencer was taken from the world by a heart attack.
His face will be missed. His skill will be admired. Whenever Leo McGarry's name is mentioned on the show until series' end, we will remember with heavy hearts, the name that gave him life.
My best to Mr. Spencer...
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