Ep 15. Celestial Navigation

In "Celestial Navigation," the 15th episode of The West Wing's first season, the pressure is on as the White House staff prepares for a crucial vote on a trade bill. As the episode opens, Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) is battling a migraine, and it's clear that tensions are running high in the West Wing.

Meanwhile, Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) is dealing with fallout from an incident in which a White House staffer referred to the President as "Jed" instead of "Mr. President" during a press conference. C.J. is doing damage control and trying to ensure that the President's authority is not undermined by this mistake.

As the day progresses, more challenges arise for the staff. White House Counsel Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt) informs Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer) that the President may need to testify before a grand jury in order to avoid obstruction of justice charges. Leo is understandably concerned about this development, and he and Babish work to prepare the President for the possibility of testifying.

Meanwhile, Josh is dealing with a personal crisis in addition to his professional duties. His father has been hospitalized, and Josh is struggling to deal with the emotions that come with that. However, he continues to work hard to ensure that the trade bill vote goes smoothly.

As the day wears on, the situation in the White House grows increasingly tense. Multiple staff members are working to prevent a scandal from erupting, and the pressure mounts as the vote approaches. The episode comes to a conclusion with a dramatic scene in which the trade bill is finally voted on, and the staff waits anxiously to see whether their efforts will pay off.

Overall, "Celestial Navigation" is a tense and emotionally charged episode of The West Wing that provides a glimpse into the complex world of politics and policymaking. The episode is distinguished by strong performances by the show's talented cast, as well as its smart dialogue and intricate plotting. Fans of the series will find much to enjoy in this engrossing episode, which provides a compelling glimpse into the inner workings of one of the most powerful institutions in the world.