Episode Last minus two

This week, my old friends (less C.J. and Margaret) took a "West Wing" week off. Be that as it may. My TV.com review is short enough, so here it is:

Alexander Haig, historians recall, was Richard Nixon's last Chief of Staff, and stayed in the position for Gerald Ford until Dick Cheney was appointed. When Nixon resigned and returned to San Clemente, he fell into the habit of calling the White House and demanding to be put through. After five days of this, Haig put out the word: The next time President Nixon calls, put him on hold.

Message received.

This phenomenon, of Vinick rambling through his offices, facing nothing to do, dealing with aides who realize he will run again, who are desperate to dissuade him, was about the only really good thing about tonight--the last breather before the sprint to the finish. Alan Alda was wonderful, as always; never as Hawkeye Pierce or one of Woody Allen's movie characters did he have to deal with his own irrelevancy. The sad fact is that his aides are right, and John Kerry's presumptive 2008 bid will bear them out. (70,000 votes--does this sound familiar?)

The rest of the episode was the equivalent of an author publishing his notes before his death. Once again the hand of O'Donnell filled out the historical analogs:

1. The public school--Amy Carter of course, and a school (of course) run by a hyperintelligent African-American woman.

2. "Sullivan won't run if I do." Vinick. Echoes of Joementum, ay?

3. The SecState offer to Vinick=SecDef to William Cohen via Clinton. Ergo, bravo Clinton.

This was the week the old gang (less C.J. and Margaret) got a rest. A good filler episode.