When a confident Sam is outmatched by a novice Republican adviser on a political
point-counterpoint television program, an impressed President Bartlet offers to hire her as
assistant White House counsel despite her party affiliation — a bold move that sends
shock waves through the resentful staff. Elsewhere, Toby and Josh attend a deadlocked
White House summit between representatives of pharmaceutical companies and the
leaders of AIDS-ravaged African nations to discuss the high price and availability of
much-needed drugs. However, the President is concerned for the safety of President
Nimbala, the eloquent leader of one of the nations, after news spreads about a bloody
coup back home in his country.
From TV Guide:
The West Wing gets a right winger as young Republican lawyer Ainsley Hayes signs on as
Associate White House Counsel. She’s offered the job at the insistence of the President,
after he sees her demolish Sam on a TV talk show. The staff is astonished and Ainsley has
serious reservations herself, but Bartlet won’t be swayed. “She feels a sense of
something,” he tells a skeptical Leo. “Of duty. Of civic duty.” Meanwhile, the President of
an AIDS-ravaged African country is visiting the White House, and sparring with
drug-company executives.