West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin revealed Friday afternoon what he believed was a West Wing moment during the Biden administration.
Sorkin and West Wing actors Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Dulé Hill, Janel Moloney, Emily Procter, Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack gathered in the White Houses Rose Garden to mark the shows 25th anniversary.
President Joe Biden had already departed for Wilmington, Delaware - where hes hosting Quad leaders over the weekend - leaving first lady Jill Biden to do the entertaining.
Over the years Ive noticed that during times of peak political tension, pundits will warn us not to expect a West Wing moment, Sorkin said. They mean not to expect a selfless act of statemanship, not to expect anyone to put country first, dont expect anyone to swing for the fences or reach for the stars.
But the fact is West Wing moments do happen and we saw proof of that on the morning of July 21st, Sorkin stated, naming the date the Biden decided to bow out of the 2024 presidential race.
West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin revealed Friday afternoon what he believed was a West Wing moment during the Biden administration
Dr. Jill Biden addresses the Rose Garden crowd Friday as shes surrounded by cast members and the creator of the West Wing Aaron Sorkin (right)
Dr. Biden took her role as outgoing first lady in stride.
As Sorkin introduced members of the cast that were present at the Rose Garden reception, he also acknowledged that three of the shows biggest stars - Rob Lowe, Allison Janney and Bradley Whitford - were on-set.
The rest of us are apparently unemployed, Sorkin stated.
Not yet, the first lady chimed in.
She also told the crowd that she had given the cast a tour of the Oval Office directly before the event.
We just came from the Oval but even though Joe is away hosting leaders of Australia and India and Japan in Delaware, he wanted to make sure that President Bartlet and his staff had a chance to see the Oval Office again, she said.
Sheen, who played President Jed Bartlet, had gotten facetime with Biden in mid-August when he came to the White House and watched Marine One take off with fellow cast members Fitzgerald and McCormack - who recently penned a West Wing-themed book.
Actor Martin Sheen (left) stands alongside first lady Jill Biden (right ) at an event celebrating the TV show The West Wing
Actor Martin Sheen waves to attendees Friday at an event at the White House marking the 25th anniversary of the television show, The West Wing
When asked then if it was nice to be back, Sheen reminded reporters that he never actually lived in the White House.
On Friday he thanked the first lady and other organizers for giving him the opportunity to again morph once again into the wonderful character that changed my life and a lot of others as well.
Guests at the event were being served a signature cocktail named The Jackal, made from bourbon and ginger ale, along with bitters and garnished with an orange wedge.
The Jackal was an iconic scene in the show when White House press secretary C. J. Cregg - played by Janney - lip-syncs a song by that name.