Celestial Navigation

"Celestial Navigation" is the 15th episode of The West Wing. Sam and Toby have to go to Connecticut to get the President's Supreme Court nominee, Roberto Mendoza, out of jail after he is wrongfully arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Matters are complicated by Sam's less-than-stellar sense of direction in driving himself and Toby there, Mendoza's refusal to bite his tongue on policy matters that then cause headaches for the Bartlet administra... more

"Celestial Navigation" is the 15th episode of The West Wing. Sam and Toby have to go to Connecticut to get the President's Supreme Court nominee, Roberto Mendoza, out of jail after he is wrongfully arrested on suspicion of drunk driving. Matters are complicated by Sam's less-than-stellar sense of direction in driving himself and Toby there, Mendoza's refusal to bite his tongue on policy matters that then cause headaches for the Bartlet administration, and the shame and humiliation felt by Mendoza when he refused a breathalyzer and was arrested in front of his wife and young son. Mendoza wants to speak out about the fact that he was unfairly targeted because of his race, and is willing to spend the night in jail in order to underscore the point. Toby tells Mendoza if he refuses to leave jail with him, his nomination is finished, and then tells the cops pointedly that they have apologies to make. Josh relates this and other stories during a speech to a group of university students about... less