The Right People

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 20th 1997

Once Jed had left the venue, Leo returned to the hall and was amused by the scene being playing out there. On one side of the room were Jed's staff - Cal, Jerry, Mack and Steve, with Toby sitting slightly away from them - and on the other side was Josh. Josh appeared to be doing a crossword, while finishing his chicken and a beer, ostensibly oblivious to the hostile looks he was receiving from across the hall. Leo grinned to himself and walked over to him. "Thanks for coming," he said as he sat down.

Josh looked up and smiled. "S' okay."

"I think you're attracting a certain amount of attention," Leo told him.

"Really?" Josh asked, glancing across the room with a smile. "I must look like someone."

Leo smiled and shook his head. "You're enjoying winding them up."

"I'm just finishing my chicken," Josh replied with a grin, before looking seriously at the older man. "What's going on, Leo?"

"What did you think of the speech?"

"It didn't really inspire me," Josh admitted.

Leo had expected as much. "Did you listen to all of it?"

"I kind of got bored during the bit on forestry, at least I think that's what it was about." Josh studied Leo for a moment, wondering yet again, why he wanted him here. "I think, with a decent speech writer, he could quite easily hold an audiences attention. I'd imagine that if the subject is something he feels strongly about he could raise the roof."

"Yeah he can," Leo agreed. "What do you really think the problem is then?"

"You've been doing this a lot longer than me, you know what the problem is," Josh told him.

"Yeah," Leo nodded. "I'd still value your opinion though."

Josh looked questioningly at Leo. "I work for Hoynes, Leo. It's an odd question to ask me."

"Humor me," Leo persisted.

Josh was beginning to think this was a bizarre conversation. He was Hoynes campaign manager and here was Leo McGarry, an opponent's campaign manager, asking for his advice. If it was anyone other than Leo he wouldn't answer, but it was Leo. "I got the feeling that, until he answered the DFC question, he was following someone else's script. The DFC answer was good, he spoke with passion and honesty. That one answer made me believe in him," Josh smiled, remembering his conversation with Sam. "It made me believe he may be the real thing."

"The real thing?" Leo asked.

"Yeah," Josh nodded.

"But?"

"Tonight didn't feel like he was setting out his stall for the nomination. Bartlet's never lost an election and it shows. The whole thing seems complacent. I just can't decide whether that's the candidate or the staff." Josh watched Leo, wondering if he'd gone too far. Leo nodded though, so Josh continued. "He needs to stop listening to the wrong people. Whoever wrote the speech, and those suits at the back of the hall who cringed when he answered the DFC question, they're going to ensure that your campaign never leaves New Hampshire."

Leo agreed with that, which was why Josh was here."That's why I'm about to fire them, apart from Toby Ziegler. Toby's a good speech writer and he has some good ideas, but he gets shouted down at every meeting. It was him who told the Governor to be honest if he was asked about the DFC."

"You replace them with staff who know what they're doing and can recognize the Governor's strengths and I think you may give Hoynes a run for his money." Josh looked at his watch. "I've got a train to catch, I'm sorry I'm going to have to go."

Leo and Josh walked through the hall together, chatting about Josh's parents and about Jenny and Mallory. Leo was well aware that his staff were sat watching him, no doubt wondering what the hell he was doing talking to Josh Lyman. Not that that mattered, most of them only had another half hour left of their jobs anyway. When they reached the lobby Leo stopped and asked, "You like Hoynes?"

"I don't have to like him," Josh avoided the question.

"But you're not happy."

"You've been talking to my dad," Josh smiled. "Hoynes has a good chance of beating the Republicans."

Leo studied Josh for a moment and wondered how he was going to react to his offer. He'd followed Josh's career with interest and a certain amount of pride that a young man who he helped introduce to politics should have come so far and done so well. "Josh, what are you doing?" he asked.

"Sorry?"

"You're 37, that's exceptionally young to be in your position. You've got a brilliant political mind, you're one of the best political strategists in the country. So what are you doing wasting that talent working for a candidate you don't believe in?"

Josh considered arguing, considered telling Leo he didn't know what he was talking about, but he knew Leo was right, just as his father and Sam had been right, Hoynes was an empty shirt and Josh was becoming more disillusioned by the campaign everyday. So he smiled a little ruefully and shrugged, "I dunno."

"Then quit and join us."

Josh stared at Leo, "Seriously?" he asked and Leo nodded. Josh was stunned, "You want me to work for you?"

"Yes. You said I need people who know what they're doing. So join us. I need a good political strategist. Come and be Bartlet for America's senior political advisor."

Josh grinned, "Okay." There was a small voice in the back of his mind telling him he should think about the offer before accepting, but he needed a new challenge and this was perfect.

"Good," Leo smiled. "When can you start?"

Josh laughed. "I wouldn't imagine Hoynes will want me hanging around once I quit so, Saturday?"

"Take the weekend off, go and see your folks. Start on Monday."

"You've definitely been speaking to my dad." Josh hasn't been home for weeks and, even though he tried to call to his parents every day, he knew he should make more effort, especially with his dad being ill. He was suppose to have gone home today, but had come here instead. "You need another speech writer?"

"Well I'm about to fire Cal so, yeah, you know one?"

Josh nodded, "I just might. Sam Seaborn." Leo looked blank and Josh continued, "He ghost writes for senators and others. You'll have heard his stuff."

"And he's good?"

"The best."

"You haven't read Toby's work," Leo commented. "You think he'll leave where he is now to do this?"

"He's about to be made a partner in a law firm, but he keeps telling me that if I find a candidate who's the real thing then he'll quit and join me. Since I've found one, I'm going to see him on my way home."

"Then you'd better not miss your train."

Josh shook Leo's hand, "Thanks," he smiled.

"I'll see you on Monday."

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21st 1997

Leo had told Jed about firing his staff and bringing in new people the night before. He hadn't told him who those people were, and he suspected Jed was going to be a little surprised. But first Leo needed to talk to Toby. He found him in the hotel restaurant, eating breakfast and reading the morning newspaper.

Toby looked over at his boss and wondered whether his question was going to sound as ridiculous out loud as it did in his head, but he had to ask. "Leo, did you really fire all the staff last night?"

"Apart from you, yeah I did. We're stuck in neutral. None of them were interested in winning, they just wanted the profile of a national campaign. I want staff whose sole aim is to make Jed Bartlet president."

"Well okay," Toby agreed, "but now the only staff are you, me and about ten volunteers."

"We're getting new staff. Which is what I wanted to talk to you about. We need someone to handle the press, to organize briefings and releases, and conferences when we get that far."

"That was Gerry's job."

"Yeah, but I want someone who can work the press, not just read out releases. Someone who'll make them want to listen and who knows which stories will grab their attention. Which is where you come in."

Toby looked horrified at what he thought Leo was suggesting. "No," he shook his head. "I write speeches, I don't do the press."

"I didn't mean you," Leo laughed. "You know CJ Cregg don't you?"

"Yeah."

"You think she'll work for us?"

"She's working for a publicity company in Hollywood. She probably earns more in year than our entire staff budget."

"But?"

"She's not happy. I'll call her."

"No, go out there and talk to her, persuade her that Bartlet For America needs her. You need to convince her that Jed Bartlet's the real thing."

"The real thing?" Toby asks.

"Something someone said to me yesterday. Get a flight as soon as you can."

"Okay," Toby readily agreed. He liked the idea of working with CJ again. "We need more than CJ though. We need a political strategist."

"We've got one. He should have started by the time you get back from LA."

"Who?"

"Josh Lyman." Leo studied Toby for a reaction.

Toby's face didn't normally give away his thoughts, but at that moment it was registering shock and disbelief. "Is there another Josh Lyman?"

"Not that I know of."

"Why would he leave Hoynes to work for us?"

"He liked the Governor's answer to the DFC question," Leo replied.

"I saw him here yesterday, I assumed he was spying for Hoynes, we all did. Cal and the others weren't too happy to see him," Toby almost smiled at the memory of their irritation at Josh's presence.

Leo smiled, "You think Hoynes would bother to send his campaign manager to spy on an unknown candidate?"

"No, but I couldn't think why else he'd be here," Toby admitted.

"I know him, I asked him to come and listen to the speech," Leo told him. "He's gone back to Washington to hand in his resignation."

"Hoynes is gonna be pissed."

"I'd think. Josh has gone via New York. He's got a friend there who ghost writes. He says he's good and he thinks he can persuade him to join us."

Toby was still trying to work out why Josh Lyman, a man who's destined to be White House chief of staff if Hoynes wins, which it was looking like he would, why he'd leave Hoynes and join them. "Do you trust him?" he asked.

"Josh?" Leo asked, Toby nodded. "Yes, I do. Don't look so worried, he's good at his job."

"I know," Toby agreed. For the first time he was actually starting to believe that this was a serious campaign and that they may be in with a chance. 

MONDAY NOVEMBER 24th 1997

Josh had told Hoynes he was quitting on Friday. He'd offered to work out his notice, but Hoynes had told him to leave straight away. He'd been pretty angry with Josh, but Josh understood that. What he hadn't understood was Hoynes standing over him while he packed his stuff, making sure he wasn't sneaking anything out with him. Josh had been insulted by that, though when he thought about it later he supposed Hoynes was just venting his anger. The only thing that Josh had taken with him from Hoynes office was Zach. They'd worked together for Congressman Brennan and had met up again in Hoynes office. Zach was about as impressed with Hoynes as Josh and had gladly agreed to join him in New Hampshire. 

After he'd left work, Josh had gone home, packed some stuff in his car and driven to Connecticut to spend the weekend with his parents. His dad was looking much better than the last time he'd seen him. He'd taken the weekend off work and the three of them spent the two days together, catching up. His parents were certainly pleased that he'd left Hoynes, though they didn't know much about Bartlet, they had known Leo for a long time. On Sunday night Josh drove to Manchester and checked into a hotel. On Monday morning he arrived at campaign headquarters at 8am. 

"So when's Sam arriving?" Leo asked as he showed Josh to his office.

"Day after tomorrow." Josh dumped his backpack on the office floor and looked around.

"It may be a little smaller than your use to," Leo smiled.

Josh grinned, "It'll do just fine. Where do you want me to start?"

"I think you should probably meet the candidate. In about an hour?"

"Okay," Josh agreed. "What does he think about you firing his staff and hiring your own?"

"He's fine with it?" Leo smiled. In truth Jed had been angry at Leo for unilaterally firing the staff that he trusted and hiring his own. Although he was shocked to hear who his new senior political advisor was. 

Josh laughed. "Why don't I believe you?"

"So what did John say?"

Josh sat on the edge of his new disk and smiled. "I don't think he was that surprised to be honest, he knew I wasn't happy. He was a little angry though. He said I was committing professional suicide," Josh grinned.

"Yeah," Leo agreed, "I think you may have burned your bridges there." He was a little worried about what Josh would do if they didn't win because Hoynes would make sure Josh's name was mud in Washington.

Josh was grinning though, "Apparently I'll never work in Washington again."

"You don't seem worried by that threat?"

"I'll just have to make sure we win. So where are the rest of the staff?"

"Sam'll be here the day after tomorrow."

Josh looked at Leo and frowns. "Okay, Leo, now you're scaring me."

Leo smiled reassuringly. "Toby's gone to LA to get us a press secretary."

"Anyone I'll know?"

"CJ Cregg."

"Worked for EMILY's List?"

"Yeah."

Josh nodded. "What's Toby like?"

"I'll let you find that one out yourself. He saw you here on Thursday though, thought maybe you were spying for Hoynes."

Josh laughed, "I don't think Hoynes even realized Bartlet was running."

"Then that's something we're gonna have to fix isn't it," Leo smiled.

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END
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