<P> The West Wing received acclaim from critics, as well as praise from political science professors and former White House staffers . In total, The West Wing won three Golden Globe Awards and 26 Emmy Awards, including the award for Outstanding Drama Series, which it won four consecutive times from 2000 through 2003 . The show's ratings waned in later years following the departure of series creator Sorkin after the fourth season (Sorkin wrote or co-wrote 85 of the first 88 episodes), yet it remained popular among high - income viewers, a key demographic for the show and its advertisers, with around 16 million viewers . In the years since its run, it has appeared on several lists of the greatest television dramas ever made . The Writers Guild of America also ranked it #10 in its "101 Best - Written TV Series" list . </P> <P> The West Wing employed a broad ensemble cast to portray the many positions involved in the daily work of the federal government . The President, the First Lady, and the President's senior staff and advisers form the core cast . Numerous secondary characters, appearing intermittently, complement storylines that generally revolve around this core group . </P> <Ul> <Li> Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is the President of the United States . An economist by training, he is a former Congressman and Governor from New Hampshire who unexpectedly won the Democratic Party nomination . He suffers from multiple sclerosis, a fact he initially hides from the electorate . He is succeeded by Matt Santos (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Leo McGarry (John Spencer), Bartlet's close personal friend and Chief of Staff . Following a heart attack, he becomes Counselor to the President, and later the Democratic Candidate for Vice President . He dies before assuming office (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford), is the Deputy Chief of Staff to Leo McGarry and C.J. Cregg, who later leaves the White House to become the "Santos for President" campaign manager . When Santos is elected, Josh becomes White House Chief of Staff (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff), the Communications Director . He is fired from the Bartlet administration during a leak investigation, though he is pardoned for his crimes at series' end . He has twin children with his ex-wife who is a congresswoman from Maryland (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe) is the Deputy Communications Director . He departs the White House following the re-election of President Bartlet to run for Congress . He is recruited to become Santos' Deputy Chief of Staff at the series end (regular: seasons 1--4, guest star: season 7). </Li> <Li> C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney), the Press Secretary . She succeeds Leo McGarry as Chief of Staff and departs White House at the end of the Bartlet administration . Post-series, she marries Danny Concannon and has a child (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Mandy Hampton (Moira Kelly) is Josh Lyman's ex-girlfriend and a media consultant contracted by the Bartlet administration . She departs without explanation following the first season (regular: season 1). </Li> <Li> Charlie Young (Dulé Hill) is originally the Personal Aide to the President and later a Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff . He is in a relationship with Zoey Bartlet . At the series end he begins to study law at Georgetown (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li> <Li> Donna Moss (Janel Moloney) is the Senior Assistant to Josh Lyman . She later departs to be a spokesperson for the Russell campaign and then the Santos campaign . Upon Santos' election, she becomes Chief of Staff to the First Lady (recurring: season 1; regular: seasons 2--7). </Li> <Li> Abbey Bartlet (Stockard Channing) is the First Lady, Jed's wife, and a physician . (regular: seasons 3--7, recurring: seasons 1--2). </Li> <Li> Will Bailey (Joshua Malina) is initially hired as a speechwriter and transitions into the role of Deputy Communications Director . He later becomes Chief of Staff to the Vice President, Russell's Campaign Manager, and Communications Director . After the series end he becomes a congressman for Oregon (regular: seasons 4--7). </Li> <Li> Kate Harper (Mary McCormack) is the Deputy National Security Advisor (recurring: season 5; regular: seasons 6--7). </Li> <Li> Matt Santos (Jimmy Smits) is a Congressman from Texas who is convinced by Josh Lyman to run for President . He eventually wins the nomination and later the election . (regular: seasons 6--7). </Li> <Li> Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda) is a Senator from California who becomes the Republican nominee for President . After his loss in the general election, he is appointed Secretary of State by President - elect Santos (regular: seasons 6--7). </Li> <Li> Annabeth Schott (Kristin Chenoweth) is Deputy Press Secretary and later works on the Santos campaign . At the series end, she is appointed Press Secretary to the incoming First Lady (recurring: season 6; regular: season 7). </Li> </Ul> <Li> Josiah "Jed" Bartlet (Martin Sheen) is the President of the United States . An economist by training, he is a former Congressman and Governor from New Hampshire who unexpectedly won the Democratic Party nomination . He suffers from multiple sclerosis, a fact he initially hides from the electorate . He is succeeded by Matt Santos (regular: seasons 1--7). </Li>

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