The senior members of the White House staff are summoned to the office early in the morning to handle difficult situations: Hundreds of Cubans are on their way across the Atlantic Ocean in search of freedom; and klutzy President of the United States Josiah Bartlet accidentally sprained his ankle riding a bicycle into a tree. Some members of the staff experience crises of their own.

Leo hires Mandy as a consultant to the President. Vice President Hoynes rebuffs C.J. when she tries to discuss a comment he made. Leo confronts Hoynes and insists that Hoynes understand his obligation to communicate with the President's press secretary. President Bartlet's naval doctor is killed in an act of foreign terrorism.

When Danny, a reporter, learns about Sam's relationship with a call girl, he doesn't write a story about it because C.J. gives Danny a lead on a much bigger newsworthy item in exchange for his silence. The President plots revenge on terrorists as he gathers his advisors in the White House. His foul mood intimidates his new aide, Charlie.

The staff has 72 hours to rescue a gun-control bill that needs five more votes in Congress to pass. Eventually they get four votes, so Leo reluctantly visits the vice president, and Hoynes promises he'll get the other vote. The vice president invites Leo to a secret Alcoholics Anonymous meeting with other government officials, and Leo attends.

Leo assigns his senior staff the task of conducting private meetings with fringe groups that want attention from the White House. Toby discovers he was not the President's first choice for communications director. Bartlet impresses a meeting of economists. Josh discovers that the smallpox virus remains a threat to United States security. And the President's daughter, Zoe, visits the White House.

A mentally unbalanced woman with a gun climbs the White House fence. The Secret Service foils her plan to target Zoey. Toby and Mandy convince a nonpolitician, the husband of a deceased congresswoman, to vote against a census amendment in committee. Sam privately tutors C.J. on the Commerce Bill with regard to the census. Charlie intervenes when some college guys threaten Zoey.

The President and First Lady host a tense dinner at the White House honoring the president of Indonesia and his wife. Danny flirts with C.J. The President takes action against a group of survivalists in Idaho. Leo and the President try to forestall a strike by the Teamsters. While a hurricane heads towards an American naval fleet, Bartlet reassures, by phone, a scared young military man on board.

The President embarrasses Vice President Hoynes during a cabinet meeting, and Danny finds out. To keep the story from print, C.J. arranges a meeting between Danny and the President. A banking reform bill that Bartlet supports nears passage, but it comes with a rider allowing strip mining on federal land. And Leo frets about his daughter, Mallory, dating Sam.

The President confidentially chooses Judge Harrison as his nominee for the Supreme Court. When the President meets with the retiring justice, the justice insists that Bartlet consider Judge Roberto Mendoza. When Sam uncovers an article that Harrison wrote that is totally against Bartlet's philosophy, the President officially nominates Mendoza instead.

Sam and Josh work on thwarting Congressman Lillienfield's accusation about drug abuse in the White House. Leo warns Bartlet that Leo may have to resign. Toby arranges a military funeral for a homeless Korean War veteran. C.J. and members of the White House staff reconsider hate crime legislation. C.J. agrees to go on a date with Danny. Bartlet tries to sneak out to do Christmas shopping.

When India invades Kashmir and Bartlet worries about a nuclear threat to both countries, he asks Lord John Marbury, a former ambassador to New Delhi, to help with the crisis. An anti-Bartlet group accuses the White House of running an internal investigation concerning recreational drug use by White House staffers as a result of the Lillienfield accusation. Bartlet's daughter wants to date Charlie

The President and his staff prepare the State of the Union Address, but the President becomes ill. Mrs. Bartlet, a physician, orders various medical tests. She later reveals to Leo--and only Leo--that President Bartlet suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Mandy informs C.J. that news of Leo's addiction will be made public. Danny and C.J. kiss.

The parents of a brutally murdered gay student are invited to witness the President sign a hate crimes bill into law even though the father doesn't believe that Bartlet expresses a strong enough position on gay rights. Sam and Josh make a deal that ensures there will be no Congressional hearing about Leo's drug problem.

On a Friday evening, the United States Supreme Court rejects the application for a stay of execution for Simon Cruz. The President of the United States is the only person capable of commuting a federal sentence. That weekend the President ponders this huge responsibility. And Josh meets with Joey Lucas, an angry campaign manager whose candidate is not getting much support from the political party

Josh lectures to a large group of college students, recounting one day in the life of the harried senior White House staff. Meanwhile, Sam and Toby rush to Connecticut to help Supreme Court Justice nominee Roberto Mendoza, who was wrongfully arrested for drunk driving simply because he's Hispanic.

The President and his staff fly to Los Angeles for a big fund-raiser, but the Hollywood mogul hosting the event threatens to cancel if the President doesn't condemn an anti-gay bill. In Washington, Leo tries to coerce Hoynes to break a tie on a bill. Leo realizes that Hoynes' stance against the bill is the correct opinion and finds a way to defeat the bill. Josh encounters Joey Lucas again.

The First Lady's public comments on a White House appointment create problems for the President because he's afraid of incurring his wife's wrath. So Sam explains to Abby the importance of working with the President's staff in the future. Zoey cancels her high-profile date with Charlie at a club opening because of death threats from white supremacists.

The Senate confirms Mendoza's appointment to the Supreme Court. Josh interviews a nominee for Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights who favors reparations to African Americans for the enslavement of their ancestors. The son of a major Democratic fund-raiser is arrested for felony drug possession and distribution at a party that Zoe attended.

Two members of the Federal Election Commission resign. Sam and Toby meet with military officers and congressmen to discuss homosexuals serving in the military. And an inflammatory memo that Mandy wrote before joining the staff surfaces.

Armed with a new resolve to take chances, the Bartlet administration tackles the drug enforcement policy. Refusing to consider input from party leaders, the President announces his two nominations to the Federal Election Commission. His candidates believe in campaign finance reform--something unpopular with party leaders. And Toby meets with his ex-wife for advice.

Bartlet works to reform campaign finance by changing the makeup of the members on the Federal Campaign Commission. Sam's relationship with a prostitute is revealed. And new poll numbers indicate the President's approval rating is up 9 points.

An American Air Force fighter plane gets shot down over Iraq, and, eventually, the pilot is successfully rescued. The space shuttle--with Toby's astronaut brother on board--can't land because of mechanical problems. During a town hall meeting, the President impresses college students. While Zoey, Charlie, the President and members of his staff exit the building, gunfire erupts. Who is injured?