Ep 18. Six Meetings Before Lunch

As the political drama The West Wing's first season continues, episode 18 presents a day in the life of the White House staff as they prepare for the President's upcoming meeting with the Republican leader. The episode is titled "Six Meetings Before Lunch."

The White House staff members are all excited and nervous as they know that the upcoming meeting is going to be crucial. They are expected to make presentations to the president to help him make important decisions.

The episode follows the daily routine of staffers C.J. Cregg and Sam Seaborn as they prepare for six separate meetings with some of Washington's most influential people before lunchtime. Seaborn in his capacity as the Deputy Communications Director responsible for media relations, prepares himself to meet with a representative of a powerful interest group, who believed their favored candidate was left out of a recent speech by the President. During the meeting, Sam tries to assuage the man's concerns and convince him to support the President's agenda.

Meanwhile, CJ Cregg, the White House Press Secretary, puts her own talents to the test as she meets with an elected official from the tribal nations of America who is advocating for the rights of his people. Along with her team, she tries to find solutions to the problem related to healthcare.

Another meeting involves a discussion about a presentation by Toby Ziegler, the Communications Director, who has drafted a speech for the president regarding a federal judge nominee who is controversial. Toby presents his proposal to his colleagues and requests their feedback before moving forward, but it's not an easy decision, as everyone has a different opinion.

In another meeting, the Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman meets with a group of environmental lobbyists, who want to promote the use of renewable energy. Josh tries to convince one of the lobbyists to support the President's agenda by pointing out the positives of their proposal.

Elsewhere, a foreign leader is expected to meet with the President, but the meeting is in jeopardy due to some unforeseen problems. Both Vice President Hoynes and Senior Communications Director Toby Ziegler try to troubleshoot the problem and salvage the important meeting.

Amidst all these meetings, President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) himself is seen meeting with his senior advisors to gather their input about the various topics that he is expected to address during the day. He listens patiently to everyone's opinion and takes note of what they have to say, but ultimately, he is the one who will have to make the final decisions.

With all the frenzied activity and high stakes in "Six Meetings Before Lunch," the episode provides an inside look at the intense work that goes on behind the scenes to help the President make informed decisions. The cast delivers stellar performances as usual, and the series continues to explore important issues related to governance and politics. Overall, the episode gives viewers a sense of the enormous pressure that comes with working in the White House, and the dedication needed to help the nation progress towards a brighter tomorrow.