The reelection campaign of President Josiah Bartlet is underway. After Bartlet finishes a speech, Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler and Donna Moss are accidentally left behind by the motorcade. At the White House, Leo McGarry and Admiral Fitzwallace learn that Qumar has reopened its investigation into the death of one of its officials. The staffers deal with the crisis caused by a bomb at a swim meet.

The reelection campaign of President Josiah Bartlet is underway. After Bartlet finishes a speech, Josh Lyman, Toby Ziegler and Donna Moss are accidentally left behind by the motorcade. At the White House, Leo McGarry and Admiral Fitzwallace learn that Qumar has reopened its investigation into the death of one of its officials. The staffers deal with the crisis caused by a bomb at a swim meet.

Bartlet's staff prepares a legal team to deal with the inquiry into Bartlet's involvement in the Qumari assassination. The country of Qumar is manufacturing evidence to implicate Israel, which could lead to war. The staffers approach Leo's ex-wife, attorney Jordon Kendall, to represent Bartlet. Meanwhile, a ruling on presidential third-party candidates causes trouble for Bartlet's campaign.

Bartlet ponders the potential consequences of ordering a strike force to overtake a barricaded gang of domestic terrorists in Iowa. Meanwhile, Bartlet's staff tries to negotiate with his Republican rival for more debates. Josh accuses his girlfriend, Amy, of possibly drawing votes away from Bartlet by helping a third-party candidate, Senator Howard Stackhouse.

While on a weekend retreat to prepare for the crucial upcoming debates, Bartlet must also deal with an Israeli air attack on Qumar that could cause havoc in the Mideast. Meanwhile, Bartlet's staff recalls the administration's first error-prone days in office.

One day before a debate between Bartlet and his Republican rival, Governor Robert Ritchie, even Toby must admit that Bartlet is ready. Toby tells C.J. that Albie Duncan, a rather old, slightly crazy Republican, will help Bartlet deal with the aftermath of the debate. Later, the staff joyously watches Bartlet trounce Ritchie in the debate.

On Election Day, Bartlet and his staff begin counting exit poll votes across the country. In a conservative California congressional district, the results have important implications for Sam and a maverick Democratic campaign manager, Will Bailey. Meanwhile, Donna meets an intriguing Navy Commander, Jack Ross, who has been transferred to the White House as Deputy Military Aide.

As the White House staffers rejoice after Bartlet's win, the outcome of a bizarre congressional race in a conservative California district provides them with a surprising idea. Toby and his ex-wife, Congresswoman Andrea "Andy" Wyatt, confront a difficult decision on their future. Donna flirts with Navy Lieutenant Commander Jack Ross, who moves into his White House office.

Bartlet ponders the immense political ramifications of honoring a secret request from the uncompromising Iranian Ayatollah to allow his son to be flown to the United States for life-saving surgery.

Sam prepares his California congressional campaign and refers talented campaign manager Will Bailey (recurring guest star JOSH MOLINA) to Toby for a review of Will's speechwriting skills. Meanwhile, C.J. clashes with a reporter who is upset over his new pressroom seat assignment.

A winter storm blankets the northeast as a staffer gets a surprising visit from his father, and Bartlet and Leo start to hear the footsteps.

The staff joins together to fight a losing battle on a foreign aid vote in the Senate.

C.J. reluctantly returns home to Dayton, Ohio, to speak at her 20th high school class reunion. Her visit includes an encounter with a rich and handsome classmate and the sobering realization that her father is rapidly deteriorating from Alzheimer's disease. While C.J. confronts her myriad emotions, she keeps in contact with Toby, who struggles to temporarily replace her during news briefings.

A situation in an unimportant country on the other side of the world has Bartlet and his staff rewriting his address on the eve of his inauguration. Meanwhile, tensions mount between the White House and the Pentagon, and the staff is stunned by a betrayal of one of their own. Part one of a two-part episode

Preparations for the Presidential inauguration, and the parties that follow, continue as the White House cancels Bartlet's speech and moves closer to a historic military action. Part two of a two-part episode.

En route to California to support Sam's troubled campaign for Congress, Bartlet and his staff debate whether or not to announce a controversial tax plan that might damage Sam's chances in conservative Orange County. Meanwhile, Bartlet must keep abreast of a dangerous U.S. military incursion in a tumultuous African country.

Bartlet waits tensely for the results of a military strike intended to rescue three captive American soldiers in Africa. Meanwhile, Toby tries to help Sam's California congressional campaign, and Josh clashes with Abby.

Upset because an antiabortion provision has been attached to a foreign aid bill, Abbey asks Amy to secretly help defeat the bill, which was proposed by Bartlet. Toby gets into legal trouble when a former classmate exposes a lawbreaking chemical company. Also, members of the Daughters of the American Revolution want to reject Abbey.

At the end of an 18-hour return trip from Manila, as Air Force One is about to begin its descent into Andrews Air Force Base, a cockpit indicator light leads the crew to believe that the landing gear might not be locked down. The craft stays in the air while the problem can be examined. Tensions grow as people become increasingly concerned that someone may have tampered with the airplane.

After a gunman fires three shots at the White House, the staff remains on lockdown. Meanwhile, Bartlet negotiates the return of a downed spy plane. Josh interviews a candidate, Joe Quincy (recurring guest star MATTHEW PERRY - "Friends," "The Whole Nine Yards"), for associate counsel. And a spirited card game allows everyone to relieve their tension.

A seemingly benign press leak begins a journey that lasts for a day and a night and ends with the discovery of a scandal affecting the uppermost levels of the administration. What the staff doesn't yet know is this is merely the beginning of a chain reaction--and things are about to get considerably worse.

The U.S. is in a heightened state of alert because suspected terrorists have gone missing. Meanwhile, Bartlet struggles with the message that he wants to convey to his youngest daughter Zoey's, graduating class at Georgetown University. C.J. must stop reporter Danny Concanon from filing a story. And Charlie decides whether to keep a romantic promise he made to Zoey when they were dating.

In the season finale, Bartlet confronts a national crisis on the night of his daughter Zoey's graduation from Georgetown University, forcing him to shut down Washington, D.C., and order a fleet to the Persian Gulf. Bartlet also considers executive action that would have been unthinkable just hours earlier. A conflicted Toby still finds time to savor a personal milestone.