Obvious “West Wing” spoilers ahead!

Listen to Dire Straits song “Brothers in Arms” while reading to get the full affect.

“The West Wing” is one of the best political dramas of all time. Unlike political dramas of today that romanticize politics and make every politician out to be a power-hungry, money-grubbing villain, “The West Wing” gave the most accurate depiction of what life in the White House is really like. The Aaron Sorkin classic was applauded for its realism, and because of that, it gave us some valuable life lessons.

1. Mental illness is a real thing.

In the Season 2 episode “Noel,” we see Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His stress is triggered by high-pitched sounds that remind him of sirens on the night he was severely wounded from a gunshot. He is becoming noticeably more and more irritable, even to the point of raising his voice to the President. With Josh trying desperately to hide his panic, the therapist digs to the bottom of his mind, and the Deputy Chief of Staff comes clean about his scars. The de-stigmatization of mental illness is still widely needed today, and Aaron Sorkin was 16 years ahead of his time.

2. It’s okay to be angry at injustice.

In Season 3 Episode 8 “The Women of Qumar,” the White House staff are stunned when White House Press Secretary CJ Cregg has an emotional outburst after the President renews an airbase lease with the fictional Middle Eastern country of Qumar. It is because Qumar is ruled by strict Islamic fundamentalists, and under Qumari law, women can be killed simply by being accused of a crime like sexual misconduct.

3. Sometimes it feels like even God is against you.

In the Season 2 finale “Two Cathedrals,” President Josiah Bartlet is wrestling with his faith in God after his lifelong friend and Secretary Mrs. Landingham is killed by a drunk driver at the intersection of 18th and Potomac. After everyone leaves from her funeral, Bartlet stays behind for a bit to yell at the Almighty. The rant is a mix of English and Latin, his voice always staying composed but terse. President Bartlet complains about all the personal injustice against him despite his successful first term as President. Yes, he lied about his disease, but was all of this a just punishment from a righteous God? The rant ends with him saying “You get Hoines!” in reference to the Vice President, indicating that Bartlet does not intend to run for re-election.

4. Even when things seem bleak, you can beat the odds.

In the same episode, President Bartlet is set to address the country about the recent revelation of his Multiple Sclerosis, a disease that many feel he hid to help him win the election. Still coming to terms with the death of Mrs. Landingham, he paces the Oval Office as a tropical storm rages outside. The door blows open and he screams out “Dammit! Mrs. Landingham!” expecting her to come in, but forgetting, then realizing that she isn’t there; she’s dead. To his surprise, his deceased Secretary walks into the Oval Office as lively as she looked in life and says “I really wish you wouldn’t shout, Mr. President.” From there, the President has a conversation with the apparition of the greatest role model he’d ever had, and nothing can shake his determination at winning re-election.

5. There is nothing greater than realizing that you have found that one friend of all friends

In Season 1 Episode 12, President Bartlet prepares for the State of the Union. As is protocol, the Secretary of Agriculture is left behind in the White House (should the Capitol be bombed and everyone inside die) to assume the Presidency if needed. The President takes the young Secretary through the steps should something happen. Then he talks about appointing a Chief of Staff, and Sorkin’s writing speaks for itself:

President Josiah Bartlet: You got a best friend?

Secretary of Agriculture Roger Tribbey: Yes, sir.

President Josiah Bartlet: Is he smarter than you?

Secretary of Agriculture Roger Tribbey: Yes, sir.

President Josiah Bartlet: Would you trust him with your life?

Secretary of Agriculture Roger Tribbey: Yes, sir.

President Josiah Bartlet: That's your chief of staff.

Leo, overhearing from outside the office, smiles and a tear rolls down his cheek.

6. Don’t be afraid to call out hatred for what it is

In Season 2 Episode 3 “The Midterms,” President Bartlet hosts a get together with several people. He enters the room and everyone stands, as is custom, except one person. A prude blonde who hosts a talk show about psychological health (despite not being a licensed therapist) remains seated. This is the exchange between President Jed Bartlet (a devout Catholic) and Dr. Jenna Jacobs (Ph.D English Literature):

President Josiah Bartlet: Good. I like your show. I like how you call homosexuality an abomination.

Dr. Jenna Jacobs: I don't say homosexuality is an abomination, Mr. President. The Bible does.

President Josiah Bartlet: Yes, it does. Leviticus.

Dr. Jenna Jacobs: 18:22.

President Josiah Bartlet: Chapter and verse. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions while I had you here. I'm interested in selling 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? While thinking about that, can I ask another? My Chief of Staff Leo McGarry insists on working 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 'cause 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.

7. Sometimes you have to ditch unity and let the people decide

In Season 6 Episode 22 “2162 Votes,” Congressman and Presidential Candidate Matthew Santos has been urged by Democratic Party leaders to drop out of the race in favor of one of the more established Party leaders (former VP John Hoines and current VP Bob Russell). Santos address the DNC saying that he has been urged to drop out of the race, then he says “but I can’t do that. Only you as delegates can decide.” (This sounds eerily familiar…).The crowd goes wild, and Matthew Santos ultimately wins the Democratic nomination for President.

8. Sometimes it’s good to have a friend who has fallen into the dark pit of despair before you

Revisiting the “Noel” episode from above, Josh is struggling with the reality that he may be asked to resign his job due to his PTSD. Then Chief of Staff Leo McGarry, who is a recovering alcoholic and valium addict, tells him this story:

"This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out.

"A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, 'Hey you. Can you help me out?' The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on.

"Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, 'Father, I'm down in this hole can you help me out?' The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on

"Then a friend walks by, 'Hey, Joe, it's me can you help me out?' And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, 'Are you stupid? Now we're both down here.' The friend says, 'Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out.'"

9. Our veterans deserve much better than what we have given them

In Season 1 Episode 10 “In Excelsis Deo,” Communications Director Toby Ziegler is seen in one of his finest moments. He saw a homeless, dying Korean vet in the street a few nights before, and Toby broke ranks to make sure the veteran had a proper military funeral.

President Josiah Bartlet: Toby, If we start pulling strings like this don't you think every homeless veteran will come out of the woodwork?

Toby Ziegler: I can only hope so, sir.

10. We mustn’t lose sight of the lower-profile people who are badly injured from the hateful actions of others

In the Season 2 premiere “In the Shadow of Two Gunmen,” the chaos picks up right where Season 1 left us. Nazi skinheads have shot into a crowd containing the President because the President’s youngest daughter is dating a young black male, personal aide to the President Charlie Young. Many people are hurt, including the President who is immediately rushed to the hospital. Everyone seems to be very concerned about the President, except Toby who is desperately looking for Josh. He searches frantically and stumbles upon Josh Lyman sitting in a corner, people ignoring him (probably not realizing that he is holding his gunshot wound, eyes glazed over but conscious). It serves as a beautiful allegory that when something bad happens, we are often so concerned with the prominent people affected that we forget about others who suffer from tragedy.

11. You are your own person, and you can accomplish great things!

In probably the greatest moment of the greatest episode in “West Wing” history (again, Season 2 finale “Two Cathedrals,”) everyone expects that President Josiah Bartlet will not seek re-election, and many feel he may possibly resign due to hiding his Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis from the public. After an entire episode of personal turmoil, the President rides to the cathedral to address the nation and press, while the song “Brothers in Arms” plays solemnly over the track. The White House staff expect that the first question will be if the President will seek re-election, so they plant an inside reporter into the crowd. The President is supposed to call on this planted reporter first, who will ask a question about Multiple Sclerosis to ease the President into the conference, and immediately shift the focus from re-election.

He stands before a vast number of reporters, makes eye contact with the planted reporter, then quickly, and intentionally calls on someone else. The reporter immediately asks if he will seek re-election. The President puts his hands in his pockets, turns his head, and smiles. From backstage, Leo McGarry turns his awestruck gaze from the TV screen to the President and says to his staff “Watch this…”