The President considers the immense political ramifications of honoring a secret request from the hardline Iranian Ayatollah to allow his son to be flown to the United States for surgery. The Swiss bring the President a message allegedly from the Ayatollah -- by way of his brother-in-law and Doctors without Borders -- requesting that the Americans perform life-saving surgery on his son. While Leo and the President ponder the political ramifications, Toby angles for a former Congresswoman to get a position in the sub-Cabinet, Josh must convince both Vice-President Hoynes and the Senate Minority Leader to stop trying to set up their 2006 Presidential bids, and Sam assembles a staff for his impromptu Congressional campaign. Oh, and the President comes this close to renaming an ocean for Charlie.

Starring:

ROB LOWE as Sam Seaborn
STOCKARD CHANNING as First Lady Abigail Bartlet
DULÉ HILL as Charlie Young
ALLISON JANNEY as C.J. Cregg
JANEL MOLONEY as Donna Moss
RICHARD SCHIFF as Toby Ziegler
JOHN SPENCER as Leo McGarry
BRADLEY WHITFORD as Josh Lyman
and MARTIN SHEEN as President Josiah Bartlet

Toby:  "With Lyman negotiating"--Yeah.

Josh:  I'm starting to feel ill will toward the Minority Leader.

Toby:  And I've had it up to here with the Welsh.

Josh:  I'm not kidding.  He was campaigning with us like a half hour ago.

---

Bartlet:  Hi.  Before you say anything, here's my idea:  The kid needs lungs and a heart; let's use the Ayatollah's.  Why are you smiling?

Leo:  I'm sorry, it's--I'm sorry, sir.  It's the little note Margaret just passed me.

Bartlet:  "The Iranians, they've taken to the streets."  Perfect.  That goes in the Margaret Museum.

---

Bartlet:  You're the nominee?

Sam:  There is no nominee; everyone's on the ballot.

Bartlet:  Is there another Democrat?

Sam:  No.

Bartlet:  You're the nominee.

Sam:  Yeah.

Bartlet:  Then I know how you feel.