S1E21 · Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Complete story — includes the ending

After last-minute quibbling over the wording of several questions, the senior staff start a nationwide telephone poll to measure the job-approval rating of the administration. The majority of the staff think the poll will show a decrease in the rating, but C.J. believes the numbers will go up; however, when the President asks Leo what the senior staff thinks the results will be, Leo omits C.J.'s prediction, which hurts her when she finds out and leads her to speak up for herself and her opinions. Leo gives a snow job to the lone reform-minded member of the Federal Election Commission. With regret, Sam explains to Laurie that he cannot attend her graduation from law school. He later goes against Leo's orders and presents her a gift outside her friend's apartment that night, but someone takes a photograph of the encounter, which was a set-up organized by Laurie's friend, and it reaches the attention of President Bartlet. The President accepts a round-robin plan to change several US ambassadors that will meet two goals: getting the campaign finance reform moves on the FEC completed successfully, and forcing out the dishonest, unlikable Ambassador to Bulgaria. C.J. spars with the press corps about treatment, rehabilitation, and mandatory minimum sentences for convicted drug users. The President makes a deal seeking reform on soft-money political contributions. Eventually C.J. receives the results of the poll, goes to the Oval Office, and presents them to the President. Note: Allison Janney won the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series with this episode submission.