My preference would have been to not go back on the air after 9\11, at all until the time felt right but that wasn't an option.

Never argue with a drunk or a fool.

Any time you get two people in a room who disagree about anything, the time of day, there is a scene to be written. That's what I look for.

It's important to remember that, first and foremost, if not only, this is entertainment. 'The West Wing' isn't meant to be good for you.

You know, one of the things I like about this world, or at least I like about the way we're presenting this world, is these issues are terribly complicated - not nearly as black and white as we're led to believe.

Certainly, last year we did an episode about the census and sampling versus a direct statistic. You just said the word 'census', and people fall asleep.

My resting pulse as a writer is writing idealistically and romantically; aspirationally. My taste lies in quixotic heroes.