Jed Bartlet is the President of the United States in one of my all-time favorite shows, The West Wing. Played by Martin Sheen, Bartlet is an idealized president. He is a Nobel Laureate, a man of strong integrity, a fierce liberal (detractors of the show dubbed it "The Left Wing"), and in possession of a great sense of humor. Originally, The West Wing was meant to focus on the White House staff, with the President only appearing in a few key episodes. Sheen's portrayal of the character in the pilot proved so popular that Bartlet became a regular cast member.
Lofty portrayals of American politics aside, the show was praised for its realism, with White House staff claiming that the show captured the feel of the real West Wing, with the boring bits left out. Former president Bill Clinton once told Martin Sheen that Bartlet would always be "his president".
Lofty portrayals of American politics aside, the show was praised for its realism, with White House staff claiming that the show captured the feel of the real West Wing, with the boring bits left out. Former president Bill Clinton once told Martin Sheen that Bartlet would always be "his president".
