The Last Hurrah (The West Wing)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Last Hurrah
Series = The West Wing


Caption =
Season = 7
Episode = 152
Airdate = April 302006
Production = 2T6220
Writer = Lawrence O'Donnell, Jr.
Director = Tim Matheson
Guests = Mary-Louise Parker
Teri Polo
Patricia Richardson
Janeane Garofalo
Stephen Root
Michael O'Neill
John Aylward
NiCole Robinson
David Clennon
Karis Campbell
Marlene Forte
Bonita Friedericy
Adrian Sparks
Episode list = List of "The West Wing" episodes
Season list = Infobox The West Wing season 7 episode list
Prev =
Next ="The Last Hurrah" is episode 152 of "The West Wing".

The transition is speeding ahead, and Matt and Helen Santos are overwhelmed by almost everything about their new lives -- including Secret Service protection, choosing a DC school for their kids, and dealing with the White House household staff. Initially they plan to run two households so that the children can continue school in Texas, but this soon becomes a nightmare scenario, and Helen decides they must all move to the White House in January. After looking at two private schools, Matt tells Helen he wants to consider a public school for the kids, much to her consternation. However, on visiting one of the better options in DC, both are pleasantly surprised.

Meanwhile, Vinick has too much time on his hands. His office is empty, and his workers seem surprised to see him. Eventually his staffers come to realize he's plotting another run for the presidency, based on his plans to make speeches in key battleground states over the next year. Santos is trying to figure out how to get his vice-presidential choice confirmed. He meets with Vinick to discuss the situation, and Vinick promptly dissects Santos' options while making it clear he won't help the new President in getting Eric Baker named the VP. However, Santos is very impressed with Vinick's political acumen and tells his former opponent in the Presidential race that he's not asking him to be VP or help with the VP process: he wants Vinick to be the new administration's Secretary of State. Vinick is shocked and immediately dismisses the offer, but talks to his staff and reveals he's intrigued by it (he also thinks the person Santos named as another possible SecState, Reynolds, would be a complete disaster in that position). Santos' staff, particularly Lou and Barry Goodwin, also think the idea is nuts but Santos makes it clear that A) he respects the hell out of Vinick and B) it's his call and he's made it. Vinick talks more to his staff, and Shelia gently lets him know that he's simply too old to make another run for the Presidency in four years, but he can be remembered as "the last honorable Senator and a GREAT Secretary of State". Vinick meets with President Santos and they each lay out terms and conditions: Vinick won't do any political fundraising or other Democratic work for the President (fine) and wants to choose his top Deputy (Santos says he can have any Democrat for that post), while Santos says Vinick will have to sell whatever the President decides on. Then Santos produces a classified briefing on the situation in Kazakhstan, and Vinick begins coming up with ideas to solve that crisis as the episode ends.

Memorable Quotes

Vinick (on the phone to Sheila): "Check my diary. What have I got for tomorrow?"

Sheila: "Haircut at 10:30"

Vinick: "That's it for the day?"

Sheila: "That's it for the year"

External links

* [http://epguides.com/WestWing/ The West Wing Episode Guide]