After outdoing Sam on a television program, Bartlet offers to hire Ainsley Hayes, a Republican adviser, as assistant White House counsel, despite being from the Republican party. However, Bartlet's offer shocks the rest of the staff and causes resentment to build. Meanwhile, Toby and Josh attend a summit concerning the cost and availability of AIDS medication in the African countries that need it the most.
Season 2 Episode 4 of The West Wing resulted in a 0.00 rating in the 18-49 demographic.
In a unique glimpse of the inner-workings of Presidential politics, The West Wing takes viewers inside the White House and follows the lives of the staff as they help President Jed Bartlet make the crucial decisions that shape the nation and the world around it. Working closely with the President are close friend and Chief of Staff Leo McGarry; Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman; Josh's assistant Donna Moss; Communications Director Toby Ziegler; and his Deputy, Sam Seaborn; Press Secretary C.J. Cregg; First Lady Abbey Bartlet; and Charlie Young, Bartlet's Personal Aide.
As season 6 unfolded, the show shifted its focus from the current administration to the Arnold Vinick vs. Matthew Santos race for the presidency, presidential election, and transition to the new administration from the Bartlet administration.