President Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen)

Bartlet was elected president in November of 1998 and began his first term in January of 1999.

He is a Native of New Hampshire.

His great-grandfather's great-grandfather was a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire, Dr. Josiah Bartlet.

The President is a Catholic.

He is married to Abigail "Abbey" Bartlet.  During his second year in office, they had been married for 32 years.

He is the father of three (Elizabether, Eleanor and Zoey) and the grandfather of one, Annie.

His personal aide is Charlie Young.

His secretary is Mrs. Landinham.  She has worked for him for the last 12 years.

The President is a Nobel laureate in economics and holds a PhD in economics.

He does not know how to use the intercom in his office and refuses to let a fourth grader show him how.

Bartlet was nearly thrown out of the London School of Economics when he was 26 over a controversial paper he wrote.

He was a professor of economics and "has a startlingly freakish" ability to quote economic statistics--although he is often just
making up the numbers.

Bartlet lost the Texas primary and also failed to carry the state in the presidential election.

He has never served a day in uniform, aside from being Commander-in-Chief of the New Hampshire National Guard.

He served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms as Governor of New Hampshire.

His secret service name was "Eagle" but was changed to "Liberty" then changed back to"Eagle."

The President was elected with only 48% of the popular vote; the majority of people in the country voted for someone else.

Bartlet was Governor of New Hampshire 10-12 years ago.

While in Congress, Bartlet voted against the New England Dairy Farming Compact because he didn't want it to be harder for
people to buy milk.

President Bartlet's a good man. He's got a good heart. He doesn't hold a grudge--that's what he pays Josh for.

He once considered becoming a chemistry professor only he didn't take any chemistry courses.

This president is very serious about carving knives. He gave his personal aide, Charlie Young, the knife that was in his family for generationts. It had been made especially for the Bartlet family by a Boston silversmith named Paul Revere.

He pardoned one turkey for Thanksgiving 2000 and drafted a second into the army.

He would watch the Academy Awards if the runners up were eaten afterward.

His presidential campaign headquarters, Bartlet for America, were in Manchester, N.H.

Bartlet was elected governor of New Hampshire with an unheard of 69% of the vote. 

The Illinois primary was a critical victory in Bartlet's bid for the nomination.

In Bartlet's first Congressional race he defeated Elliot Roush.

He attended the University of Notre Dame, and does not like it when his press secretary (CJ Cregg) makes fun of the school on the eve of the Michigan game.

He was accepted at Harvard, Yale and Williams, but chose Notre Dame because he was thinking of becoming a priest, but changed his mind after he met Abbey.

While Governor of New Hampshire Bartlet signed the Historic Barn and Bridges Preservation Act.

President Bartlet received a $145 Armani cravat from his brother-in-law. He gave it to the Salvation Army.

He owns a farm in Manchester valued at $750,000 due to Secret Service improvements, including a helipad and the ability to run a global war from the sun porch.

The President is seriously considering getting a dog.

He finds it almost amazing Joshua Lyman isn't on the National Security Council.

When he plays basketball with his staff there are allegations that he cheats--blatantly.

The President has at least two brothers, Ed and Jonathan.

His mother is apparently still living.

Bartlet's grandmother taught in a "two room school house" to the children of Italian stonecutters in the basement of a rectory.

His brother, Jonathan, once locked him in a steamer trunk with actual steamers. Jonathan is now heading up the Bartlet Presidential Library Commission.

Bartlet sprained his ankle by coming to a sudden arboreal stop while riding Leo McGarry's bike on vacation in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

The President has knownLeo McGarry for 40 years.

Bartlet is a religious man, and while he doesn't believe it is the government's place to legislate against abortion, he has
worked to discourage women from seeking abortions.

He has read the bible from cover to cover.

Twenty-eight years ago, after a bad day at the New Hampshire State House, he came home and backed his station wagon
through the garage door.

The President has a notorious sense of humor, which has gotten him in trouble with both golfers and Texans in the past.

President Bartlet speaks infinitely more Latin than Josh Lyman.

He is not comfortable with violence.

He smokes two cigarettes per day in times of stress.

Leo McGarry encouraged Bartlet to run for president after meeting with him in Bartlet's kitchen in New Hampshire.

He is fond of the song "Happy Days are Here Again."

The President has a bad back, but doesn't like to take his medication. He once mixed the Percocet with the Vicodin and thought Sam was Toby.

He doesn't play golf, but he does play chess and he could kick Rep. Chris Wick's ass in a game.

The President once played mixed doubles tennis with Steffi Graf against Toby Ziegler and C.J. Cregg in Florida.

The President enjoys making chili and watching his staffers enjoy each other's company outside of work.

President Bartlet has been known to engage in late-night poker games with his staff.

He takes pleasure in tormenting people with obscure trivia questions. 

He does not carry cash or keys.

Bartlet is a national parks buff who has visited all 54 national parks in the U.S. (55 after he designated Big Sky Country a national park).  He wants to organize a staff tour of Shenandoah National Park where he could act as tour guide.

He is allergic to eggnog.

He searches every day for the underground tunnel out of the White House but hasn't been able to find it.

The President suffers from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Fever and stress tend to bring on attacks. The First Lady, a doctor, gives him injections of betaseron to reduce their frequency. He normally experiences total recovery after attacks, although a fever can be life threatening. The President's life expectancy is normal. Only 14 people previously were aware of Bartlet's condition.

He is still jealous of his Abbey's old boyfriend, but named him (reluctantly) to the  Fed Chair.

The night of the Illinois primary was a major turning point for Bartlet. He realized he was ready to lead and vowed not to let his staff ever think he didn't appreciate them again.

He offered to fly to Connecticut with Josh when his father died.

He's not allowed to smoke inside the White House anymore because he burned some priceless antiques.

His relapsing remitting M.S. could turn into secondary progressive M.S. up to ten years after the initial diagnosis, which ccurred eight years ago.

He made a deal with Abbey that he wouldn't run for a second term. That deal was how he justified keeping his M.S. a secret from the world.

He likes the movie Dial M for Murder.

He once shook Hubert Humphrey's hand.

Quoteable Quotes

I gotta hand it to you guys.  You pulled off a political first.  You've managed to earn me the support of the Christian right and the Cheech & Chong Fan Club in the same day. (Ellie)

Bartlet: Charlie, could you arrange for my middle daughter to come see me at her earliest possible convenience?
Charlie: Yes, sir.
Bartlet: Ah, screw her convenience.  Get her ass down here.  (Ellie)

Bartlet: You know, we're coming up to the good part.
Ellie: Dad, people are trying to watch the movie.
Bartlet: You wanna bet your tuition no one in this room is gonna shush me?  (Ellie)
 

Yeah, Ainsley. I wanted to say hello and to mention, you know, a lot of people assume you were hired because you're a blond, Republican sex-kitten, and well, they're obviously wrong. Keep up the good work.  (Bartlet's Third State of the Union)
 

Bartlet: Mr. Sumatra, I understand you're a sports fan.
Sumatra: Yes sir, Mr. President.  Golf.
Bartlet: Okay, well, golf's not a sport.  Don't get me wrong; it's fine and all, but let's not you and I confuse it with things men do.  (The Drop In)
 

Bartlet: Sorry everybody. This is gonna be it. Four is my lucky number
Donna: This is Take Five, sir.
Bartlet: Five is my lucky number. Fifth Take Bartlet, that's what Jack Warner used to call me.
Donna: Did you really know Jack Warner?
Bartlet: Yeah, because I used to be a contract player in Hollywood, and I'm 97 years old.  (It's Surely To Their Credit)

Well, obviously, Lionel Tribby is a brilliant lawyer who we cannot live without, or there would be very little reason not to put him in prison.  (It's Surely To Their Credit)

Chapter and verse.  I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I wanted to sell my youngest daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. She's a Georgetown Sophomore, speaks fluent Italian, always cleared the table when it was her turn. What would a good price for her be? (Pause) While thinking about that, can I ask another? My chief of staff, Leo McGarry, insists onworking on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly says he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself? Or is it okay to call the police?  Here's one that's really important, because we've got a lot of sports fans in this town. Touching the skin of a dead pig makes one unclean. Leviticus 11:7. If they promise to wear gloves, can the Washington Redskins still play football? Can Notre Dame? Can West Point? Does the whole town really have to be together to stone my brother John for planting different crops side by side? Can I burn my mother in a small family gathering for wearing garments made from two different threads? Think about those questions, would you? One last thing. While you may be mistaking this for your monthly meeting of the Ignorant Tight-Ass Club, in this building when the president stands, nobody sits.  (The Midterms)