Ep 9. Swiss Diplomacy

The West Wing season 4 episode 9, titled Swiss Diplomacy, centers around President Bartlet's administration's efforts to negotiate the release of an American pilot who has been held captive in Switzerland for several months. The pilot, Lieutenant Commander Jack Reese, was on a routine NATO mission when his plane crashed in a Swiss farmer's field, leading to his capture by the Swiss authorities.

The episode opens with President Bartlet meeting the Swiss ambassador, urging him to expedite Reese's release. However, the ambassador informs the President that the Swiss government is bound by protocol and cannot release Reese until he is formally charged with a crime. Bartlet, frustrated with the slow pace of the negotiations, decides to send a delegation to Switzerland to resolve the issue.

The delegation, led by the White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry and the Secretary of State, meets with their Swiss counterparts, but the negotiations don't go smoothly. The Swiss officials are adamant that Reese must be charged with espionage, which would carry a 20-year sentence if he is found guilty. However, the American delegation argues that Reese is innocent and was simply on a training mission.

Meanwhile, the President is dealing with a crisis at home. The opposition party has published a damning report alleging that a member of his administration has been involved in illegal campaign financing. This causes tension among the staffers and threatens to derail the negotiations in Switzerland.

As the negotiations continue, it becomes clear that the Swiss are unwilling to budge on their terms. McGarry and the Secretary of State realize that they need to find a way to present a more compelling case for Reese's release. They decide to bring in the Secretary of Defense to provide his firsthand knowledge of Reese's character and qualifications as a pilot. The move pays off when the Swiss agree to release Reese on the condition that he immediately leave Switzerland and never return.

The episode ends with Reese being reunited with his wife and children in the United States. President Bartlet, pleased with the outcome of the negotiations, holds a press conference announcing the successful release of Reese and thanking the Swiss government for their cooperation. However, the report on illegal campaign financing continues to be a major issue for the administration, setting up the drama for future episodes.

Overall, Swiss Diplomacy is a tense and thought-provoking episode that highlights the complexities of international diplomacy and the high stakes involved in securing the release of a captive American citizen. The show's expert writing and strong performances from its talented cast make it a must-watch for fans of political dramas.