History Recap / TheWestWingS01E13TakeOutTheTrashDay

Leo's past alcoholism and drug addiction is the dominant story of the episode in three different areas. Josh and Sam go to Capitol Hill, where Congressman Joseph Bruno questions them about [[Recap/TheWestWingS01E09TheShortList Josh's investigation into Leo's past]]. Eventually, it's agreed the investigation will be dropped in exchange for President Bartlet putting a sex education report away until after the midterms (more on that below). Meanwhile, Leo gets a visit from Simon Blye, a newspaper columnist whom he considers a friend, but who in essence tells Leo to resign. Finally, Donna and the other secretaries tell Josh and Sam who leaked a story about Vice-President Hoynes' advance man playing golf on the public's dime, but the two of them and Toby figure out the women who leaked it - Karen Larsen (Creator/LizaWeil) - [[FindingJudas also gave Leo's medical file to Claypool]]. Sam fires Larsen, but when Leo finds out she did it not for any political gain, but because her father was an alcoholic, he invites her to come back to work, and she accepts.

Leo's past alcoholism and drug addiction is the dominant story of the episode in three different areas. Josh and Sam go to Capitol Hill, where Congressman Joseph Bruno questions them about [[Recap/TheWestWingS01E09TheShortList Josh's investigation into Leo's past]]. Eventually, it's agreed the investigation will be dropped in exchange for President Bartlet putting a sex education report away until after the midterms (more on that below). Meanwhile, Leo gets a visit from Simon Blye, a newspaper columnist whom he considers a friend, but who in essence tells Leo to resign. Finally, Donna and the other secretaries tell Josh and Sam who leaked a story about Vice-President Hoynes' advance man playing golf on the public's dime, but the two of them and Toby figure out the women who leaked it - Karen Larsen - [[FindingJudas also gave Leo's medical file to Claypool]]. Sam fires Larsen, but when Leo finds out she did it not for any political gain, but because her father was an alcoholic, he invites her to come back to work, and she accepts.

-->'''Mrs. Landingham:''' Would you like to share what's in that report, sir?
-->'''President Bartlet:''' With you?
-->'''Mrs. Landingham:''' Yes.
-->'''President Bartlet:''' No.
-->'''Mrs. Landingham:''' May I ask why not, sir?
-->'''President Bartlet:''' Because I'd rather not be in therapy for the rest of my life.

* BewareTheNiceOnes[=/=]TranquilFury: Sam's indignant fury at Larson when he fires her is all the more terrifying since he never yells.

** Also Leo. While talking to Karen Larsen, he figured out that she didn't do it to make political gain, but because she was terrified of an alcoholic being Chief of Staff in the White House and he quietly admonishes her that what she did caused a number of troubles for the White House, but he admits that it was very brave of her.