A wily President Bartlet considers the extraordinary option of recalling the Senate from a winter holiday to push through a ratification of a new nuclear test-ban treaty — despite the lame-duck status of many Senators who will not return in the next session — while the drunken Ukrainian leader (Eugene Lazarev) thunders through the White House demanding to see the President. Elsewhere: Toby is shocked to hear that even if the Senate returns, the White House might still lack the necessary votes; Sam learns something when he grudgingly works with new Republican assistant counsel Ainsley Hayes; a stubborn C.J. argues against allowing reporter Danny private access to the President for a series of exclusive stories; and Donna is on a mission to get the President to back legislation on repetitive stress injuries.

From TV Guide: Josh, Toby and Sam want the President to consider calling a lame-duck session of Congress to try to pass a test-ban treaty, and C.J. leaks news of this to Danny — who initiated the story in the first place by asking if the White House was “considering” calling the session. Meanwhile, Donna goes on the warpath over carpel-tunnel syndrome; Sam and Ainsley teach each other a thing or two; and a Ukrainian reformer (Eugene Lavarev) shows up — drunk — at the White House, demanding to see the President.