The West Wing

The premiere episode of the third season of "The West Wing" deals with some of the questions and issues facing the world in the wake of the tragedies that recently occurred in America.

Bartlet announces that he intends to seek reelection.

Bartlet refines his speech for a major reelection announcement, while his staff works uneasily with a heavyweight political strategist (RON SILVER).

C.J. cunningly reveals clues to the press that could force Rollins to be ousted and replaced by someone more favorable to the administration.

As a State Department dinner nears, Bartlet boldly vetoes the "death tax" bill, but his staff must scramble to learn that the House of Representatives has enough votes to override the veto.

After a church shooting, Bartlet asks reluctant Vice President John Hoynes to speak at an antigun rally in Texas, but the uneasy allies confront each other in a starkly frank showdown.

When an American spy submarine suddenly loses contact with the U.S. in hostile North Korean waters, a concerned Bartlet receives advice from Assistant Secretary of State Albie Duncan.

While Bartlet worries about where he will be on Thanksgiving--and how to best cook a gourmet turkey--C.J. meets with two Native Americans, Maggie and Jack, camped in the White House lobby.

At Abbey's urging, Josh meets with a powerful women's caucus over the proposed language of a United Nations treaty banning prostitution.

Leo fears the worst when he testifies in the congressional investigation into Bartlet's lack of public disclosure about his illness.

Leo defiantly rejects the Congressional Oversight Committee's offer of a public censure of Bartlet that would finally bring an end to the investigation.

While the White House staff works intensely on Bartlet's crucial State of the Union speech, Bartlet suddenly demands the inclusion of a passage that promises a crusade to cure cancer.

Bartlet and his staff ponder whether or not to counter a fast-rising Republican presidential candidate's verbal assault on affirmative action.

Bartlet consults a psychiatrist, Dr. Stanley Keyworth, for a troubling sleep disorder and receives a sobering personal assessment.

Bartlet engages both Sam and Toby in intricate chess matches that mirror the wily game of brinksmanship that Bartlet is playing with the Chinese.

As Abbey contemplates the likelihood that her medical license will be taken away the following day, she grumpily attends a big White House party for her birthday.

Bartlet makes a disparaging comment about a potential Republican nominee after a television interview, not realizing that he is still being recorded.

When a large truck carrying uranium fuel rods crashes in a remote Idaho tunnel, Bartlet's staff prepares for a potential environmental--or terrorist--crisis.

As Sam finalizes the maddening details of Bartlet's upcoming summit with the Russian president, satellite photographs reveal an Iranian nuclear bomb facility built with Russian technology.

Bartlet and his staff rush to deal with an anticipated terrorist attack over a broad area. And C.J. has trouble adjusting to being protected by a handsome and capable Secret Service agent.

Bartlet agonizes over whether or not to forfeit the principle of diplomatic immunity for an important Middle Eastern official who is known to be plotting terrorism.

In the season finale, Bartlet makes a life-or-death decision regarding a foreign diplomat who is a known terrorist.

Drama meets reality in this documentary episode.