Mandy Hampton
Encyclopedia
Dr. Madeline 'Mandy' Hampton is a fictional character
played by Moira Kelly
on the American serial drama television series The West Wing. She was White House
media consultant
during the first season of the show, and the former girlfriend of Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman
, with whom she often clashed. A savvy political strategist and no-nonsense negotiator, the character was said to have been based on real-life political media advisor Mandy Grunwald
.
One of the character's major subplots involved the public disclosure of a secret memo she wrote criticizing President Josiah Bartlet
, which created a public embarrassment for the administration. Although Kelly was a primary cast member during the first season, Mandy was featured less frequently as the episodes progressed, and removed from the series altogether by the end of the first season. Series creator Aaron Sorkin
said the character was not working out, and the departure was an amicable decision with Kelly.
in art history
, a master's degree
in communications
and a Ph.D.
in political science
. Mandy starts out the show as an advisor to Democratic Senator Lloyd Russell, a political challenger to President Josiah Bartlet
who opposes many of his policies. She was also dating the senator, which angered Deputy White House Chief of Staff Josh Lyman
, who used to date her himself. In the second episode, "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
", Mandy ultimately leaves the senator, and stops dating him, when he defies her wishes and tables a bill in committee that she planned to fight vigorously for. As a result, Mandy is hired as a media consultant for Bartlet, much to the chagrin of Josh. In her new capacity, she reports directly to Toby Ziegler
, the White House Communications Director.
Before leaving Russell's employment, she writes a memo to him deeply critical of Bartlet's administration. This memo eventually surfaces in the media and becomes a public embarrassment for the Bartlet administration in the episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
", leading to her being cut out of the policy-making loop for a while until President Bartlet ordered his senior staff to let her out of the doghouse. In "The State Dinner
", when the Federal Bureau of Investigation
wants to use force to take down a militia involved a hostage situation, Mandy strongly urges the president to exhaust all peaceful solutions first, despite Josh's advice to the contrary. Mandy argues "the greatest threat to democracy" are not "the nuts" but rather "the unbridled power of the state over its citizens". However, the situation ends poorly when the hostage-takers shoot a mediator sent in to negotiate, causing the FBI to respond forcefully and release the hostages without harm, and Mandy to become physically sickened by the events. Mandy Hampton loved to drive fast cars.
, the Democratic political consultant and media advisor who worked on the presidential campaigns for both Bill Clinton
and Hillary Rodham Clinton
. Moira Kelly said of her character, "She's a fighter in a difficult business and has a lot of strength."
said that the character was not working out, and the decision for Moira Kelly's departure from the show was amicable:
The ensemble-nature of the cast made it further difficult to focus adequately on the character. When the first season finale, "What Kind of Day Has It Been
", featured a cliffhanger
ending with an unknown character getting shot, many fans speculated it would be Mandy Hampton due to the character's ongoing departure. The St. Petersburg Times
quoted an unnamed West Wing writer as suggesting that actors with two-year contracts are the most likely to have been shot, which the newspaper said suggests it could be Mandy due to her pending departure. However, the newspaper also suggested that could be a red herring
since it was not at all clear that Mandy was even present in the scene when the shots were fired. It ultimately turned out to be Josh Lyman who was shot.
Sorkin originally planned to reintroduce Mandy in the second-season episode "The War at Home
", as the campaign operator of junior senator and environmentalist Seth Gilette, played by Ed Begley, Jr.
. However, the appearance never happened. Fans of The West Wing have since adopted the phrase "Mandyland" to represent the fate of other recurring characters who appeared in fairly integral roles for several episodes but then suddenly disappeared.
, writer Richard Feinberg acknowledged most of the important characters in the show are white males, but pointed to "very smart women" characters like Mandy as evidence that the show included a fair mix.
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 Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly
Moira Kelly is an American actress. She is best known for playing single mother Karen Roe on the teen drama One Tree Hill. She also directed two episodes of the series: "Resolve" and "I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About Me"...
on the American serial drama television series The West Wing. She was White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
media consultant
Media consultant
A Media Consultant is a term used to describe a marketing agent or public relations executive, hired by businesses or political candidates to obtain positive press coverage....
during the first season of the show, and the former girlfriend of Deputy White House Chief of Staff 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...
, with whom she often clashed. A savvy political strategist and no-nonsense negotiator, the character was said to have been based on real-life political media advisor Mandy Grunwald
Mandy Grunwald
Mandy Grunwald is an American professional political consultant and media advisor for the Democratic Party.She is the daughter of the late Henry Grunwald, former editor-in-chief of Time magazine and the sister of the author Lisa Grunwald. She grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and on...
.
One of the character's major subplots involved the public disclosure of a secret memo she wrote criticizing President Josiah 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...
, which created a public embarrassment for the administration. Although Kelly was a primary cast member during the first season, Mandy was featured less frequently as the episodes progressed, and removed from the series altogether by the end of the first season. Series 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...
said the character was not working out, and the departure was an amicable decision with Kelly.
Storyline
Mandy Hampton was a political consultant who left high-paying and prestigious public relations firm to work for top politicians in the public sphere. Extremely ambitious, Mandy had a reputation as a savvy political strategist and no-nonsense negotiator. She has a bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in art history
Art history
Art history has historically been understood as the academic study of objects of art in their historical development and stylistic contexts, i.e. genre, design, format, and style...
, a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in communications
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
and a Ph.D.
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. Mandy starts out the show as an advisor to Democratic Senator Lloyd Russell, a political challenger to President Josiah 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...
who opposes many of his policies. She was also dating the senator, which angered Deputy White House Chief of Staff 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...
, who used to date her himself. In the second episode, "Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (The West Wing)
"Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc" is the 2nd episode of The West Wing.-Plot:Sam jeopardizes his bright political future when he decides to pursue a relationship with a call girl he recently met, while C.J. arbitrates a disagreement between the President and the Vice President, and the President hires a...
", Mandy ultimately leaves the senator, and stops dating him, when he defies her wishes and tables a bill in committee that she planned to fight vigorously for. As a result, Mandy is hired as a media consultant for Bartlet, much to the chagrin of Josh. In her new capacity, she reports directly to 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:...
, the White House Communications Director.
Before leaving Russell's employment, she writes a memo to him deeply critical of Bartlet's administration. This memo eventually surfaces in the media and becomes a public embarrassment for the Bartlet administration in the episode "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
"Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" is the 19th episode of The West Wing.-Plot:When a damaging memo which is critical of the President is discovered, the White House press cover it with zest, much to CJ's dismay. Later it is revealed that Mandy wrote it when she was working for Lloyd Russell...
", leading to her being cut out of the policy-making loop for a while until President Bartlet ordered his senior staff to let her out of the doghouse. In "The State Dinner
The State Dinner
"The State Dinner" is the 7th episode of The West Wing. It is the first time that First Lady Abigail Bartlet appears.-Plot:...
", when the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
wants to use force to take down a militia involved a hostage situation, Mandy strongly urges the president to exhaust all peaceful solutions first, despite Josh's advice to the contrary. Mandy argues "the greatest threat to democracy" are not "the nuts" but rather "the unbridled power of the state over its citizens". However, the situation ends poorly when the hostage-takers shoot a mediator sent in to negotiate, causing the FBI to respond forcefully and release the hostages without harm, and Mandy to become physically sickened by the events. Mandy Hampton loved to drive fast cars.
Development
It has been said Mandy Hampton was partially inspired by Mandy GrunwaldMandy Grunwald
Mandy Grunwald is an American professional political consultant and media advisor for the Democratic Party.She is the daughter of the late Henry Grunwald, former editor-in-chief of Time magazine and the sister of the author Lisa Grunwald. She grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and on...
, the Democratic political consultant and media advisor who worked on the presidential campaigns for both Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
and Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is the 67th United States Secretary of State, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama. She was a United States Senator for New York from 2001 to 2009. As the wife of the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton, she was the First Lady of the...
. Moira Kelly said of her character, "She's a fighter in a difficult business and has a lot of strength."
Departure
The character appeared only in the first season, and her appearances became less and less frequent as the episodes progressed. She departed from the show without plot explanation after the first season ended. Series creator Aaron SorkinAaron 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...
said that the character was not working out, and the decision for Moira Kelly's departure from the show was amicable:
The ensemble-nature of the cast made it further difficult to focus adequately on the character. When the first season finale, "What Kind of Day Has It Been
What Kind of Day Has It Been
"What Kind of Day Has It Been" is the 22nd episode of The West Wing, the season finale of the show's first season. It originally aired on NBC May 17, 2000. Events circle around the attempted rescue of a US fighter pilot in Iraq, and the president taking part in a town hall meeting in Rosslyn,...
", featured a cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
ending with an unknown character getting shot, many fans speculated it would be Mandy Hampton due to the character's ongoing departure. The St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
quoted an unnamed West Wing writer as suggesting that actors with two-year contracts are the most likely to have been shot, which the newspaper said suggests it could be Mandy due to her pending departure. However, the newspaper also suggested that could be a red herring
Red herring
A red herring is a deliberate attempt to divert attention.Red herring may refer to:* Red herring , the informal fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but does not address the issue in question....
since it was not at all clear that Mandy was even present in the scene when the shots were fired. It ultimately turned out to be Josh Lyman who was shot.
Sorkin originally planned to reintroduce Mandy in the second-season episode "The War at Home
The War at Home (The West Wing)
-Plot:An attempt to rescue the DEA agents held hostage in Colombia backfires and nine soldiers are killed. The President and his staff weigh more military action and the effects of appeasing terrorists. The hostages are later released after the Colombian President covertly releases a recently...
", as the campaign operator of junior senator and environmentalist Seth Gilette, played by Ed Begley, Jr.
Ed Begley, Jr.
Edward James "Ed" Begley, Jr. is an American actor and environmentalist. Begley has appeared in hundreds of films, television shows, and stage performances. He is best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich, on the television series St...
. However, the appearance never happened. Fans of The West Wing have since adopted the phrase "Mandyland" to represent the fate of other recurring characters who appeared in fairly integral roles for several episodes but then suddenly disappeared.
Themes
Mandy Hampton has been cited in arguments that, particularly in the first season, the series placed its female characters in largely marginalized roles while the male characters occupied most of the powerful positions. They pointed out that even Mandy, who holds a relatively important position as political consultant, departs from the show quickly and is not predominantly featured in major storylines. However, authors Peter C. Rollins and John E. O'Connor, who published a book about the series, wrote, "This televised representation may not be so much the result of a conscious or even unconscious bias on the part of the scriptwriters but a reflection of Washington reality." In an article for The Straits TimesThe Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
, writer Richard Feinberg acknowledged most of the important characters in the show are white males, but pointed to "very smart women" characters like Mandy as evidence that the show included a fair mix.