Bob Russell (The West Wing)
Encyclopedia
Robert 'Bingo Bob' Russell is a fictional character
played by Gary Cole
on the television
serial
drama
The West Wing
.
After the resignation of Vice President
John Hoynes
due to a sex scandal
in May 2003, the Bartlet Administration was forced to replace him with another Democrat. President Jed Bartlet's first choice was Lewis Berryhill, his Secretary of State, played by William Devane
. However, Berryhill's nomination was opposed by House
and Senate
Republicans
, along with more than a few Democrats
, most notably the Senate Minority Leader. Instead, and with a great deal of reluctance, Bartlet appointed Bob Russell under the provisions of the 25th Amendment
, after Congressional Republicans made it clear that they would not confirm a more viable candidate, who could conceivably be nominated to succeed Bartlet. Russell was on the list of names given by conservative Republican Speaker of the House Jeff Haffley
, which included a lesbian
and several other politically-unappealing individuals.
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
. http://www.joshlyman.com/vault/5-08-s.html
However, once confirmed as Vice President, Russell soon established himself as an ambitious and shrewd politician with a wry awareness of his own shortcomings. Russell often used self-deprecating humor to try to get past his dullness:
In the political primary season, he vied with Hoynes and U.S. Representative Matt Santos
of Texas
for the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2006 election.
After a strong early start as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Russell lost the crucial California
Democratic primary, and several later primaries, to Santos. Russell offered Santos and then Pennsylvania
Gov. Eric Baker the opportunity to be his running mate, but both declined. After several deadlocked ballots at the Democratic National Convention
and a rousing speech from Santos, President Bartlet threw his support to Santos, as did a key teachers' union leader, and Santos secured the presidential nomination, with former White House Chief of Staff
Leo McGarry
as his running mate.
Russell's chief of staff and later campaign manager was Will Bailey
; Donna Moss
also joined his campaign staff, eventually rising to become press secretary
. Bailey later became White House Communications Director
following the dismissal of Toby Ziegler
for a national security violation, while Moss moved over to the Santos campaign.
Late in the presidential campaign, Santos became frustrated with Russell's apparent unwillingness to campaign for him. But Russell did eventually campaign for Santos in his own home state of Colorado, a state which was subsequently carried by Santos in the election. Russell offered to continue as Vice President to Santos, after Democratic vice presidential nominee Leo McGarry
died on the night of the Presidential election, but Santos tactfully declined the offer.
Bob Russell is last seen commenting to Will Bailey that McGarry's death has caused him to reflect on his own mortality.
. He justified his close relationship with the local mining interests because the local mining company, West Co, employed five times as many of his constituents as any other company in the district, but was attacked in the 2006 Democratic Primaries by the Hoynes
Campaign and Common Cause
for his support of mining interests. Russell also had an in-depth knowledge of nuclear weapons technology, because the Colorado Plateau
is the US's leading source of uranium, and was able to assist in the Bartlet Administration's efforts to discover which nation carried out a nuclear test in the Indian Ocean
. Bartlet said that Russell's voters had reelected him four times, which indicates that he is a fifth term congressmen and was probably first elected in 1994. This was confirmed when it was stated that Russell had voted to renew the embargo on Cuba in 1996, meaning he would have been first elected in 1994.
As Vice-President, Russell was often used by the Bartlet Administration to work with the Republicans during disputes, due to his relationships and relative popularity with Republican leaders such as Speaker Haffley. On issues, Russell would sometimes disagree with the Bartlet Administration, including during the Budget Shutdown
, the Gaza Crisis
and on gay marriage during another budget dispute
. Russell's position on gay marriage was that while gay rights were advancing gradually, pushing for marriage rights too quickly would cause a backlash, so he was disinclined to oppose the amendment. As a Congressman, Russell also had a strong reputation for his opposition to flag burning, co-sponsoring the Flag Burning Amendment
every time it came before Congress, and strongly considered speaking out when a flag was apparently burnt in the White House.
During the primaries, Russell campaigned on his support for Ethanol fuel
and abortion rights
. Russell also supported gun control
, attacking rival John Hoynes for his strong pro-gun record, although Russell was also an avid hunter who often hunted with the Governor of Montana. When the California
legislature passed a law to ban illegal immigrants from holding driver's licenses, Russell came out in favor of it. When US foreign policy in relation to Cuba
became a campaign issue, Russell took a hardline stance, re-affirming his support for sanctions and saying he would not rule out military action in order to bring about democratic change there. Russell was popular in the West
and Midwest
and was able to win many states in those regions in the primaries, believing that he would also be able to do so in the general election against Arnold Vinick
(with his prospective running mate, Baker, hopefully being able to secure Pennsylvania
and the traditional blue states in the Northeast
, thus winning the election).
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
played by Gary Cole
Gary Cole
Gary Michael Cole is an American actor. Cole is known for his supporting roles in numerous film and television productions since the 1990s.-Early life:...
on the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
serial
Serial (radio and television)
Serials are series of television programs and radio programs that rely on a continuing plot that unfolds in a sequential episode by episode fashion. Serials typically follow main story arcs that span entire television seasons or even the full run of the series, which distinguishes them from...
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
The West Wing
The West Wing (TV series)
The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
.
After the resignation of 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...
John Hoynes
John Hoynes
John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
due to a sex scandal
Sex scandal
A sex scandal is a scandal involving allegations or information about possibly-immoral sexual activities being made public. Sex scandals are often associated with movie stars, politicians, famous athletes or others in the public eye, and become scandals largely because of the prominence of the...
in May 2003, the Bartlet Administration was forced to replace him with another Democrat. President Jed Bartlet's first choice was Lewis Berryhill, his Secretary of State, played by William Devane
William Devane
William Joseph Devane is an American film, television and theater actor.-Life and career:Devane was born in Albany, New York in 1937 or 1939 , the son of Joseph Devane, who was Franklin D. Roosevelt's chauffeur when he was Governor of New York...
. However, Berryhill's nomination was opposed by House
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...
and Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, along with more than a few Democrats
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...
, most notably the Senate Minority Leader. Instead, and with a great deal of reluctance, Bartlet appointed Bob Russell under the provisions of the 25th Amendment
Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Twenty-fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution deals with succession to the Presidency and establishes procedures both for filling a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, as well as responding to Presidential disabilities...
, after Congressional Republicans made it clear that they would not confirm a more viable candidate, who could conceivably be nominated to succeed Bartlet. Russell was on the list of names given by conservative Republican Speaker of the House Jeff Haffley
Jeff Haffley
Jeffrey Haffley, played by Steven Culp, is a recurring fictional character on the American television show The West Wing. A staunch Republican, Jeff Haffley replaces Glen Allen Walken as Speaker of the House early in the fifth season...
, which included a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
and several other politically-unappealing individuals.
A 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...
Representative
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
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
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
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
United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce
The Committee on Energy and Commerce is one of the oldest standing committees of the United States House of Representatives. Established in 1795, it has operated continuously—with various name changes and jurisdictional changes—for more than 200 years...
with future Speaker Jeff Haffley
Jeff Haffley
Jeffrey Haffley, played by Steven Culp, is a recurring fictional character on the American television show The West Wing. A staunch Republican, Jeff Haffley replaces Glen Allen Walken as Speaker of the House early in the fifth season...
. http://www.joshlyman.com/vault/5-08-s.html
However, once confirmed as Vice President, Russell soon established himself as an ambitious and shrewd politician with a wry awareness of his own shortcomings. Russell often used self-deprecating humor to try to get past his dullness:
In the political primary season, he vied with Hoynes and U.S. Representative 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...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
for the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2006 election.
After a strong early start as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Russell lost the crucial California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Democratic primary, and several later primaries, to Santos. Russell offered Santos and then Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Gov. Eric Baker the opportunity to be his running mate, but both declined. After several deadlocked ballots at the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
and a rousing speech from Santos, President Bartlet threw his support to Santos, as did a key teachers' union leader, and Santos secured the presidential nomination, with former White House Chief of Staff
White House Chief of Staff
The White House Chief of Staff is the highest ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President.The current White House Chief of Staff is Bill Daley.-History:...
Leo McGarry
Leo McGarry
Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
as his running mate.
Russell's chief of staff and later campaign manager was Will Bailey
Will Bailey
William "Will" Bailey, is a fictional character played by Joshua Malina on the television serial drama The West Wing, holding various posts in the White House Office of Communications, Office of the Vice President and a backbencher Congressman .-Character biography:Will grew up in Belgium, as his...
; Donna Moss
Donna Moss
Donnatella "Donna" Moss is a fictional character played by Janel Moloney on the television serial drama The West Wing. Donna is a recurring character during the first season, although she appears in every episode, making her a de facto regular...
also joined his campaign staff, eventually rising to become press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
. Bailey later became White House Communications Director
White House Communications Director
The White House Director of Communications, also known as Assistant to the President for Communications, is part of the senior staff of the President of the United States, and is responsible for developing and promoting the agenda of the President and leading its media campaign...
following the dismissal of Toby Ziegler
Toby Ziegler
Tobias Zachary 'Toby' Ziegler is played by Richard Schiff on the television serial drama The West Wing. For most of the series' duration he is White House Communications Director.-Creation and development:...
for a national security violation, while Moss moved over to the Santos campaign.
Late in the presidential campaign, Santos became frustrated with Russell's apparent unwillingness to campaign for him. But Russell did eventually campaign for Santos in his own home state of Colorado, a state which was subsequently carried by Santos in the election. Russell offered to continue as Vice President to Santos, after Democratic vice presidential nominee Leo McGarry
Leo McGarry
Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry's character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White...
died on the night of the Presidential election, but Santos tactfully declined the offer.
Bob Russell is last seen commenting to Will Bailey that McGarry's death has caused him to reflect on his own mortality.
Background and views
Before ascending to the Vice-Presidency, Russell represented a Congressional district in Western Colorado, most likely the Colorado 3rdColorado's 3rd congressional district
Colorado's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. The district is located in western and south central Colorado, encompassing most of the rural Western Slope...
. He justified his close relationship with the local mining interests because the local mining company, West Co, employed five times as many of his constituents as any other company in the district, but was attacked in the 2006 Democratic Primaries by the Hoynes
John Hoynes
John Hoynes is a fictional character played by Tim Matheson on the American television series The West Wing. Hoynes is Vice President of the United States during the first four seasons of the show....
Campaign and Common Cause
Common Cause
Common Cause is a self-described nonpartisan, nonprofit lobby and advocacy organization. It was founded in 1970 by John W. Gardner, a Republican former cabinet secretary under Lyndon Johnson, as a "citizens' lobby" with a mission focused on making U.S. political institutions more open and...
for his support of mining interests. Russell also had an in-depth knowledge of nuclear weapons technology, because the Colorado Plateau
Colorado Plateau
The Colorado Plateau, also called the Colorado Plateau Province, is a physiographic region of the Intermontane Plateaus, roughly centered on the Four Corners region of the southwestern United States. The province covers an area of 337,000 km2 within western Colorado, northwestern New Mexico,...
is the US's leading source of uranium, and was able to assist in the Bartlet Administration's efforts to discover which nation carried out a nuclear test in the Indian Ocean
The Warfare of Genghis Khan
"The Warfare of Genghis Khan" is the 101st The West Wing episode and 13th of the fifth season. It originally aired on NBC February 1, 2004. Events circle around the detection of a nuclear detonation over the Indian Ocean. Written by Peter Noah and directed by Bill D'Elia, the episode contains guest...
. Bartlet said that Russell's voters had reelected him four times, which indicates that he is a fifth term congressmen and was probably first elected in 1994. This was confirmed when it was stated that Russell had voted to renew the embargo on Cuba in 1996, meaning he would have been first elected in 1994.
As Vice-President, Russell was often used by the Bartlet Administration to work with the Republicans during disputes, due to his relationships and relative popularity with Republican leaders such as Speaker Haffley. On issues, Russell would sometimes disagree with the Bartlet Administration, including during the Budget Shutdown
Shutdown (The West Wing)
-Plot:A disastrous fiscal crisis looms when the federal government is shut down after the President and the powerful Republican Speaker of the House disagree over an extra two percent in budget reductions that would trim many of Bartlet's key social programs. Opinion polls reveal that the public...
, the Gaza Crisis
Memorial Day (The West Wing)
-Plot:In the season finale, Gaza slayings of key U.S. officials might drag the fuming President into an unending cycle of violence. Events in the tinderbox Gaza Strip spin out of control after the murders of high-ranking U.S...
and on gay marriage during another budget dispute
Faith Based Initiative
"Faith Based Initiative" is the 120th episode of The West Wing.-Plot:A Senator attaches a rider to the federal budget bill that would ban gay marriage, almost daring the President to veto it...
. Russell's position on gay marriage was that while gay rights were advancing gradually, pushing for marriage rights too quickly would cause a backlash, so he was disinclined to oppose the amendment. As a Congressman, Russell also had a strong reputation for his opposition to flag burning, co-sponsoring the Flag Burning Amendment
Flag Desecration Amendment
The Flag Desecration Amendment, often referred to as the flag burning amendment, is a controversial proposed constitutional amendment to the United States Constitution that would allow the United States Congress to statutorily prohibit expression of political views through the physical desecration...
every time it came before Congress, and strongly considered speaking out when a flag was apparently burnt in the White House.
In the Room
-Plot:At Zoey Bartlet's birthday party, magicians Penn & Teller appear to burn an American flag in the White House, prompting a publicity nightmare which Josh has to deal with...
During the primaries, Russell campaigned on his support for Ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel is ethanol , the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres...
and abortion rights
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
. Russell also supported gun control
Gun politics
Gun politics addresses safety issues and ideologies related to firearms through criminal and noncriminal use. Gun politics deals with rules, regulations, and restrictions on the use, ownership, and distribution of firearms.-National sovereignty:...
, attacking rival John Hoynes for his strong pro-gun record, although Russell was also an avid hunter who often hunted with the Governor of Montana. When the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
legislature passed a law to ban illegal immigrants from holding driver's licenses, Russell came out in favor of it. When US foreign policy in relation to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
became a campaign issue, Russell took a hardline stance, re-affirming his support for sanctions and saying he would not rule out military action in order to bring about democratic change there. Russell was popular in the West
Mountain States
thumb|300px|Regional definitions vary from source to source. The states shown in dark red are always included, while the striped states are usually considered part of the same region called the Mountain States....
and Midwest
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
and was able to win many states in those regions in the primaries, believing that he would also be able to do so in the general election against Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick
Arnold Vinick is a fictional character on the television series The West Wing played by Alan Alda.-Biography:A Republican senator from California and Republican presidential nominee, he is narrowly defeated by Democrat Matt Santos in the 2006 presidential election, with Vinick winning the popular...
(with his prospective running mate, Baker, hopefully being able to secure Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
and the traditional blue states in the Northeast
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
, thus winning the election).
See also
- The West WingThe West Wing (TV series)The West Wing is an American television serial drama created by Aaron Sorkin that was originally broadcast on NBC from September 22, 1999 to May 14, 2006...
- List of characters on The West Wing
- List of politicians on The West Wing
- List of The West Wing episodes