Amy Gardner
Encyclopedia
Amelia "Amy" Gardner is a fictional character on the American television
series The West Wing, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker
. Politically skilled and a strong advocate on feminist causes, the character holds various jobs throughout the timeline depicted on The West Wing, both in public-advocacy organizations and in government. The character is also a romantic interest for Josh Lyman
.
The character appears in 20 episodes during Seasons 3, 4, and 5, and then three more episodes during Seasons 6 and 7.
As backstory, the character is said to have attended Brown University
and Yale Law School
(where she befriended Josh Lyman and dated his roommate). It is also stated that the First Lady used to babysit her. She is depicted as a prominent women's rights
activist, first appearing in the third season as the Director of the Women's Leadership Coalition, a fictional advocacy group
. The character is also said to have been, at some point prior to her first appearance in the series, Issues Director for the National Organization for Women
, Political Director of EMILY's List
, and founder of the Democratic Women's Forum.
The flirtation between Amy Gardner and Josh Lyman, and their subsequent relationship, constituted a major story arc in Season 3 of The West Wing.
In the final episode of season 3, Amy challenges Josh, trying to defeat a welfare-reauthorization bill supported by the President. Josh wins this political skirmish, but his success means the end of Amy's Directorship of the Women's Leadership Coalition, and this causes Amy to end her romantic relationship with Josh, although they remain friends. As Amy stated to Josh after some time had passed: "I fought you, I lost, I had a drink, I took a shower. 'Cause that's how it is in the NBA".
Amy returns in season 4 as an advisor to Senator Howard Stackhouse during his campaign for the presidency as an independent. After Stackhouse drops out and endorses President Bartlet
, Amy provides unofficial assistance to the President's reelection efforts, working through Josh. She later serves as Chief of Staff to First Lady Abigail Bartlet, giving her opportunity to get back at Josh by outmaneuvering him, having gotten used to running circles around the First Lady's prior incompetent Chief of Staff. She also helps Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn
fundraise in his failed run for a seat in the House of Representatives
.
It was rumored that show creator Aaron Sorkin
wanted to add Parker to the main cast, but she was unable to commit to the show because of her role in the film Angels in America
.
When Parker became pregnant, Amy was written out of the show in the fifth season episode Constituency of One
. After coming into conflict with President Bartlet
over funding for domestic violence prevention in an Appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services
, she realizes that her methods did not suit a position at the White House - she prefers to pursue her own agenda instead of furthering someone else's political career. She resigns as Chief of Staff to the First Lady
and ends her second relationship with Josh.
Amy reappears in the season 6 episode Freedonia
to help prepare Congressman Matt Santos
for a debate between Democratic
candidates for President
. Josh (now Santos's campaign manager) fires Amy when he learns that she has been distributing the same policy advice to all the Democratic candidates. Josh later changes his mind, allowing her to remain as a consultant, but the character is not mentioned again in season 6.
In season 7, Amy lobbies president-elect Santos to select a congresswoman from Florida
as Vice President
after the death of Leo McGarry. While Santos is not swayed by her arguments, he offers her the post of Director of Legislative Affairs in his new administration, telling her when she at first refuses "that it is easier to throw rocks at the building from outside, than it is to rebuild it from the inside." Amy subsequently accepts the role, and as the series ends she is firmly established as an important advisor to President-Elect Santos.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series The West Wing, portrayed by Mary-Louise Parker
Mary-Louise Parker
Mary-Louise Parker is an American actress, known for her current lead role on Showtime's television series Weeds portraying Nancy Botwin, for which she has received several nominations and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in 2006...
. Politically skilled and a strong advocate on feminist causes, the character holds various jobs throughout the timeline depicted on The West Wing, both in public-advocacy organizations and in government. The character is also a romantic interest for Josh Lyman
Josh Lyman
Joshua "Josh" Lyman is a fictional character played by Bradley Whitford on the television drama The West Wing. For the majority of the series, he was White House Deputy Chief of Staff in the Josiah Bartlet administration...
.
The character appears in 20 episodes during Seasons 3, 4, and 5, and then three more episodes during Seasons 6 and 7.
As backstory, the character is said to have attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
and Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
(where she befriended Josh Lyman and dated his roommate). It is also stated that the First Lady used to babysit her. She is depicted as a prominent women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
activist, first appearing in the third season as the Director of the Women's Leadership Coalition, a fictional advocacy group
Advocacy group
Advocacy groups use various forms of advocacy to influence public opinion and/or policy; they have played and continue to play an important part in the development of political and social systems...
. The character is also said to have been, at some point prior to her first appearance in the series, Issues Director for the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
, Political Director of EMILY's List
EMILY's List
EMILY's List is a political action committee in the United States that aims to help elect female candidates to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1984....
, and founder of the Democratic Women's Forum.
The flirtation between Amy Gardner and Josh Lyman, and their subsequent relationship, constituted a major story arc in Season 3 of The West Wing.
In the final episode of season 3, Amy challenges Josh, trying to defeat a welfare-reauthorization bill supported by the President. Josh wins this political skirmish, but his success means the end of Amy's Directorship of the Women's Leadership Coalition, and this causes Amy to end her romantic relationship with Josh, although they remain friends. As Amy stated to Josh after some time had passed: "I fought you, I lost, I had a drink, I took a shower. 'Cause that's how it is in the NBA".
Amy returns in season 4 as an advisor to Senator Howard Stackhouse during his campaign for the presidency as an independent. After Stackhouse drops out and endorses President Bartlet
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
, Amy provides unofficial assistance to the President's reelection efforts, working through Josh. She later serves as Chief of Staff to First Lady Abigail Bartlet, giving her opportunity to get back at Josh by outmaneuvering him, having gotten used to running circles around the First Lady's prior incompetent Chief of Staff. She also helps Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn
Sam Seaborn
Samuel Norman "Sam" Seaborn is a fictional character portrayed by Rob Lowe on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is best known for being Deputy White House Communications Director in the Josiah Bartlet administration throughout the first four seasons of the series.-Creation and...
fundraise in his failed run for a seat in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
It was rumored that show creator Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Sorkin
Aaron Benjamin Sorkin is an Academy and Emmy award winning American screenwriter, producer, and playwright, whose works include A Few Good Men, The American President, The West Wing, Sports Night, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Social Network, and Moneyball.After graduating from Syracuse...
wanted to add Parker to the main cast, but she was unable to commit to the show because of her role in the film Angels in America
Angels in America (miniseries)
Angels in America is a 2003 HBO miniseries adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name by Tony Kushner. Kushner adapted his original text for the screen, and Mike Nichols directed...
.
When Parker became pregnant, Amy was written out of the show in the fifth season episode Constituency of One
Constituency of One
-Plot:After Josh is hailed as the "101st Senator" in a newspaper profile, he clashes with conservative Senator Carrick , a Democrat from Idaho...
. After coming into conflict with President Bartlet
Josiah Bartlet
Josiah Edward "Jed" Bartlet is a fictional character played by Martin Sheen on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is President of the United States for the entire series until the last episode, when his successor is inaugurated...
over funding for domestic violence prevention in an Appropriations bill for the Department of Health and Human Services
United States Department of Health and Human Services
The United States Department of Health and Human Services is a Cabinet department of the United States government with the goal of protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services. Its motto is "Improving the health, safety, and well-being of America"...
, she realizes that her methods did not suit a position at the White House - she prefers to pursue her own agenda instead of furthering someone else's political career. She resigns as Chief of Staff to the First Lady
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
and ends her second relationship with Josh.
Amy reappears in the season 6 episode Freedonia
Freedonia (The West Wing)
"Freedonia" is episode 125 of The West Wing. "Freedonia" refers to a fictional country in the Marx Brothers film Duck Soup.-Plot:It is five days before the New Hampshire primary and Santos is doing plenty of stump speeches, and Josh is desperately trying to find a "silver bullet" that will get his...
to help prepare Congressman Matt Santos
Matt Santos
Matthew Vincente "Matt" Santos is a fictional character on the American television show The West Wing, played by Jimmy Smits. His initial appearance is as a Democratic U.S. Representative from Houston, Texas. According to West Wing writer and producer Eli Attie, Santos was based on the then...
for a debate between Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
candidates for President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Josh (now Santos's campaign manager) fires Amy when he learns that she has been distributing the same policy advice to all the Democratic candidates. Josh later changes his mind, allowing her to remain as a consultant, but the character is not mentioned again in season 6.
In season 7, Amy lobbies president-elect Santos to select a congresswoman from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
as Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
after the death of Leo McGarry. While Santos is not swayed by her arguments, he offers her the post of Director of Legislative Affairs in his new administration, telling her when she at first refuses "that it is easier to throw rocks at the building from outside, than it is to rebuild it from the inside." Amy subsequently accepts the role, and as the series ends she is firmly established as an important advisor to President-Elect Santos.