<Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Mrs. Russell (wife) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Relatives </Th> <Td> Todd (nephew), Robert Russell (father) </Td> </Tr> <P> Robert "Bob" Russell is a fictional character played by Gary Cole on the television serial drama The West Wing . He is introduced as a member of Congress from Colorado, and succeeds to the vice presidency after President Bartlet nominates him following the resignation of incumbent John Hoynes . </P> <P> A Democratic Representative from Colorado at the time of his appointment, Russell was initially derided by some of the senior West Wing staff as mediocre, shallow, and a tool of Colorado mining interests . Russell's dismissive nickname around Washington was "Bingo Bob", and he was often referred to as "the Congressman from the Western Colorado Mining Company". Russell served on the House Energy Committee with future Speaker Jeff Haffley . </P>

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