I would love for people to think that I am as quick, clever, smart and heroic as the characters that I write, but those characters are characters.

To use a basketball metaphor, West Wing cast was a group that liked to pass as much as they liked to shoot.

Only criminals and adulterers should have to hide who they are.

Josh: So, Toby, it’s election night. What do you say about a country that goes out of its way to protect even those citizens that try to destroy it? Toby: God bless America.

Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: civility, respect, kindness, character.

Pretty much up until The West Wing, our leaders had always been portrayed in popular culture as either Machiavellian or dolts. But I thought, "What if we show a group of people who are highly competent, they're going to lose as much as they win, but we're going to understand that they wake up every morning wanting to do good?" That was really the spirit behind The West Wing.

If I get an idea for a series that I really like, I'm sure I won't be able to resist coming back and doing it.