The West Wing: Season 7

2005 · 22 episodes · ★ 6.7

What Season 7 of The West Wing

The seventh season picks up from the leak of a military space shuttle, which President Bartlet tries to get to the bottom of. The focus shifts mostly to the election campaign, where Santos and Vinick compete for the White House amid polls and debates. Toby ends up admitting he leaked the story, but refuses to name his brother as the source, a decision that puts him at odds with a federal prosecutor. C.J., the new chief of staff, deals with a war between China and Russia over Kazakhstan. Donna asks Josh for her job back.

22episodes

Sep 25, 2005premiered

May 14, 2006latest episode

14.8 hrtotal runtime

Season 7 Episodes

7x01 The Ticket
Sep 25, 2005 · 40 min
As everyone but Josh causes Santos to question his choice of Leo as his running mate, Bartlet's investigation into the dangerous press leak continues. Also C.J. gets interviewed by Babish and Donna approaches Josh for a job.
Directing: Christopher Misiano · Writing: Debora Cahn · Starring: Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Timothy Busfield
7x02 The Mommy Problem
Oct 2, 2005 · 41 min
Santos and Vinick have to deal with press fallout when it looks like the Bartlet White House is not going to continue the investigation into the press leaks.
Directing: Alex Graves · Writing: Eli Attie · Starring: Richard Schiff, NiCole Robinson, Marlee Matlin, Matthew Del Negro
7x03 Message of the Week
Oct 9, 2005 · 40 min
It's three weeks into the presidential campaign and Vinick meets with Frost out on the trail. Santos pulls a stunt which leads to higher approval ratings and jolts the Vinick camp. Vinick and Santos try to kick each other politically while they focus on their messages of the week.
Directing: Christopher Misiano · Writing: Lawrence O'Donnell · Starring: Timothy Davis-Reed, Matthew Del Negro, Patricia Richardson, Kris Murphy
7x04 Mr. Frost
Oct 16, 2005 · 39 min
Margaret is interrogated at a hearing held by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; Santos deflects religious questions onto Vinick; Someone gives C.J. intelligence information; a Palestinian leader is assassinated and Bartlet wants to attend the funeral despite security concerns. Also, we learn Margaret's last name.
Directing: Andrew Bernstein · Writing: Alex Graves · Starring: Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, NiCole Robinson, John Aylward
7x05 Here Today
Oct 23, 2005 · 41 min
The White House is trying to cope with the revelation of the identity of the leaker and Babish's questioning of Toby convinces him that he must get his lawyer. Lou persuades Josh to get Santos to clean house with his campaign staff. Kate finally reaches Charles Frost and confronts him about what he told to C.J. and a few other things about his personality in general. The Bartlets hear Ellie's heapful of "good" and "bad" news.
Directing: Alex Graves · Writing: Peter Noah · Starring: Richard Schiff, Stockard Channing, NiCole Robinson, Nina Siemaszko
7x06 The Al Smith Dinner
Oct 30, 2005 · 40 min
Donna is back and she's working for the Santos/McGarry campaign, but not for Josh. An attack ad on Santos by a pro-life group puts Vinick in a corner when Santos demands Vinick renounce it but Vinick knows that if he does it will offend the G.O.P. leadership.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Eli Attie · Starring: Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, NiCole Robinson, Matthew Del Negro
7x07 The Debate
Nov 6, 2005 · 41 min
Santos and Vinick battle it out in primetime live. Forrest Saywer the moderator poses questions and attempts to ensure that the candidates remain within bounds. Ellen DeGeneres guest hosts the show on behalf of American Express and their new credit card.
Directing: Alex Graves · Writing: Lawrence O'Donnell · Starring: Teri Polo, Patricia Richardson, Ron Silver, Forrest Sawyer
7x08 Undecideds
Nov 13, 2005 · 40 min
Lou and Santos run into trouble on the road when they try to pick up a family's vote; their child was shot by a Latino police officer. Also, CJ must manage a crisis between China and Kazakhstan.
Directed by Christopher Misiano · Written by Debora Cahn · Starring Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, NiCole Robinson, Nina Siemaszko
7x09 The Wedding
Dec 11, 2005 · 41 min
Santos is working on campaign strategy, Ellie's getting married, Abbey is welcoming guests, Bartlet's making jokes, China and Kazahkstan are about to go to war, Carol makes an appearance, and Josh may get fired.
Directing: Max Mayer · Writing: Josh Singer · Starring: Janel Moloney, Stockard Channing, Nina Siemaszko, John Aylward
7x10 Running Mates
Jan 8, 2006 · 40 min
All eyes are looking forward to the Leo McGarry/Ray Sullivan Vice Presidential debate. Meawhile, Santos is trying not to catch his children's cold and he visits his home in Texas and continues to campaign. Jorge Santos, the Congressman's brother, may cause some problems at a gathering.
Directed by Paul McCrane · Written by Peter Noah · Starring Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, Teri Polo, Matthew Del Negro
7x11 Internal Displacement
Jan 15, 2006 · 40 min
The Westins visit Washington and Doug is keeping a secret from Liz that many other senior staffers already know about. C.J. tries to make a deal with the French to try to handle a problem in the Sudan. Gail is in trouble. Josh asks Will for a little help with the campaign. C.J. and Danny go out to dinner and talk like good old friends and C.J. likens men to salmon while dealing with a waitress who is not all that found of her.
Directing: Andrew Bernstein · Writing: Bradley Whitford · Starring: Timothy Busfield, NiCole Robinson, Annabeth Gish, George Cheung
7x12 Duck and Cover
Jan 22, 2006 · 40 min
Bartlet must deal with the possiblity of a nuclear explosion in California, Kate is keeping a careful watch on the election in Kazakhstan and China's response, Will is acting as the government's voice this week, and Josh is trying to keep his political version of Tourette's in check.
Directing: Christopher Misiano · Writing: Eli Attie · Starring: Janel Moloney, Timothy Davis-Reed, Teri Polo, Matthew Del Negro
7x13 The Cold
Mar 12, 2006 · 40 min
After the near-nuclear disaster at the power plant the polls show surprising, or maybe not so surprising, results for both candidates. The Vinick camp gears up for backlash while the Santos camp hopes for cause to celebrate. Meanwhile Bartlet is still trying to keep the situation in Central Asia under control. Relationships in the Santos campaign, the Vinick campaign, and the West Wing all undergo changes and Vinick and Bartlet attempt to deal with different versions of the cold.
Directing: Alex Graves · Writing: Debora Cahn · Starring: Janel Moloney, Matthew Del Negro, Lily Tomlin, Patricia Richardson
7x14 Two Weeks Out
Mar 19, 2006 · 40 min
There are only two weeks left before Election Day and both candidates must make difficult choices at a time when they are both extremely tired. Vinick meets a famous athlete who greets him with a welcome that sings possible campaign trouble. Santos doesn't have such trouble with the athlete. Both candidates are campaigning in California with the hopes of stealing the election from the other guy in the hopes of thereby winning the election. Santos' briefcase falls into the hands of the Vinick campaign.
Directing: Laura Innes · Writing: Lawrence O'Donnell · Starring: Richard Schiff, Matthew Del Negro, Stephen Root, Diana Maria Riva
7x15 Welcome to Wherever You Are
Mar 26, 2006 · 40 min
The Santos campaign meets up with Rock the Vote. Helen gives a lecture to a National Latina Organization, but her heritage doesn't help her when trying to deliver part of the Santos campaign message. Toby is being pressured by Attorney General Blake to reveal his source and it's affecting his relationship with his kids.
Directing: Matia Karrell · Writing: Josh Singer · Starring: Richard Schiff, Janel Moloney, Timothy Davis-Reed, Kathleen York
7x16 Election Day (1)
Apr 2, 2006 · 40 min
Election Day finally arrives, and between analyzing exit polls, and mulling over news reports, a few Santos staff members discover the joys of campaign romance. Meanwhile, C.J. ponders life after the White House; and Annabeth makes a tragic discovery.
Directing: Mimi Leder · Writing: Lauren Schmidt Hissrich · Starring: Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Teri Polo, Matthew Del Negro
7x17 Election Day (2)
Apr 9, 2006 · 40 min
Abbey is in New Hamphire with Liz Bartlet-Westin and they are awaiting the results of Doug Westin's campaign for a seat in Congress. Members of both the Santos campaign and the Vinick campaign must decide how to handle a tragedy, as the voters around the country continue to cast their votes for the next President of the United States.
Directing: Christopher Misiano · Writing: Eli Attie, John Wells · Starring: Janel Moloney, NiCole Robinson, Teri Polo, John Aylward
7x18 Requiem
Apr 16, 2006 · 40 min
Bartlet, Santos, and their staff members attend a funeral for one of their own. Also, Josh cautions Santos about getting involved in the vote for Speaker of the House.
Directing: Steve Shill · Writing: Debora Cahn, Eli Attie, John Wells · Starring: Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Stockard Channing
7x19 Transition
Apr 23, 2006 · 41 min
Bartlet and his staff make the transition as easy as possible for the president-elect, who discovers some unpleasant realities about his new job.
Directing: Nelson McCormick · Writing: Peter Noah · Starring: Rob Lowe, Janel Moloney, Teri Polo, Matthew Del Negro
7x20 The Last Hurrah
Apr 30, 2006 · 41 min
While Santos is busy trying to select a new vice president, his wife finds her new responsibilities staggering. Meanwhile, Vinick ponders his next move.
Directing: Tim Matheson · Writing: Lawrence O'Donnell · Starring: Mary-Louise Parker, NiCole Robinson, Teri Polo, Michael O'Neill
7x21 Institutional Memory
May 7, 2006 · 41 min
C.J. and Will both face uncertain futures as Bartlet and his staffers prepare to leave the White House to make way for the Santos administration.
Directing: Lesli Linka Glatter · Writing: Debora Cahn · Starring: Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, Timothy Busfield, Kathleen York
7x22 Tomorrow Season Finale
May 14, 2006 · 40 min
While Santos and his winning camp are nervously gearing up for the presidential inauguration, current President Bartlet, CJ, and the others fondly look back as they prepare to leave the White House forever.
Directing: Christopher Misiano · Writing: John Wells · Starring: Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Stockard Channing