The first season, which begins in the middle of Bartlet's first year in office, is loaded with images of a West Wing "stuck in neutral" and powerless to govern. Several episodes notably "Five Votes Down" and "Mr. Willis of Ohio" feature the White House desperately digging for a backdoor through which to pass a particular piece of legislation. This powerlessness ends in "Let Bartlet Be Bartlet" when Leo and the president finally agree to fight any battle they believe to be important, even if they are not sure they can win.
The season ends with a cliffhanger assassination attempt with an ominous call over a Secret Service radio: "Who's been hit?! Who's been hit?! Josh Lyman, the Deputy Chief of Staff, is in trouble after a television appearance in which he makes an insulting comment to a representative of a political-connected Christian group; and Sam Seaborn, the Deputy Director of Communications, spends a night with a woman who turns out to be a prostitute.
Another subplot is 1, Cuban boat refugees , of whom arrive in Miami and request asylum , while are missing in a storm and presumed dead. Bartlet speaks bluntly to the Christian group Lambs of God. Sam jeopardizes his political future when he decides to pursue a relationship with the prostitute whom he met recently.
The episode ends when Leo informs the President that Tolliver died while en route to a teaching hospital in Jordan when Syrian forces shot down his military aircraft on the orders of the Syrian Defense Ministry, killing all on board. The White House has surprisingly lost five votes for an incremental gun control bill, so the West Wing staff work during the three remaining days to regain the votes for the passage of the bill.
After Leo forgets his wedding anniversary, his wife announces that she is leaving him. Josh and Toby encounter difficulties over their personal financial disclosures which are being shared publicly. The last gun bill vote is secured thanks to the Vice President who counted on being the hero of the process. The staff members participate in Leo's "Big Block of Cheese" Day, when they meet with fringe special interest groups who normally cannot get attention from the White House. Josh receives a card from the National Security Council and later learns that he is the only senior staff member other than Leo who will receive protection in the event of a nuclear attack.
