Annabeth Gish

Leslie (Amy Poehler) and Ben (Adam Scott) travel back to his hometown of Partridge, MN to accept the key to the city. Ron (Nick Offerman) gets served a lawsuit from councilman Jamm (guest star Jon Glaser), while Ann (Rashida Jones) and Chris (Rob Lowe) take a compatible parenting quiz.

As the White House reels from the kidnapping of Zoey (recurring guest star Elisabeth Moss), the youngest daughter of Democratic U.S. President Josiah Edward Bartlet (series star Martin Sheen), the government is temporarily passed from the distraught Bartlet to the Republican party--specifically Speaker of the House Glenallen Walken (recurring guest star John Goodman - "Roseanne," "Barton Fink")--due to the prior resignation of Bartlet's Vice President. First Lady Dr. Abigail "Abbey" Bartlet (series star Stockard Channing) staunchly supports her husband, but the trauma of potentially losing their child forces her to confront Bartlet with the harrowing notion that the crisis was the direct result of the assassination of a dangerous foreign official he ordered months ago. As always, professorial Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (series star John Spencer) serves as Bartlet's political and emotional buttress. Ever present is highly regarded Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (series star Bradley Whirford), whose capable assistant, Donna Moss (series star Janel Moloney), keeps him grounded. Press Secretary C.J. Cregg (series star Allison Janney) remains cool and competent in the media briefing room, and rumpled Communications Director Toby Ziegler (series star Richard Schiff), focuses on the emergency, even as he quietly celebrates the birth of his twins.

The festive Christmas spirit at the annual White House tree-lighting celebration is dimmed when the President learns that Christian relief workers have been jailed in Islamic Northern Sudan. Bartlet welcomes his three independent daughters, Zoey (recurring guest star Elisabeth Moss), Liz (recurring guest star Annabeth Gish) and Ellie (recurring guest star Nina Siemaszko), and is surprised to learn that Liz's husband, Doug Westin (recurring guest star Steven Eckholdt), wants to vie for Congress in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, when the licenses of some doctors in Oregon are suspended after they administer drugs in an assisted suicide, Toby tries to keep the President from being bogged down in a debate--and clashes with Will, whom he sends to convince the Vice President to address the political juggernaut instead.

The international crisis concerning the terrorist abduction of Bartlet's daughter Zoey reaches a critical point as Speaker of the House Glenallen Walken (recurring guest star John Goodman), the acting President, orders the bombardment of Qumari terrorist camps. The kidnappers issue a 24-hour deadline for the removal of American troops from Qumar. Meanwhile, Josh fumes over his perceived notion that the Republicans will exploit and push forward their own legislative agenda. And Toby visits his newborn twins--even as he oversees the drafting of two presidential speeches that hinge on Zoey's fate.

Josh travels to New Hampshire with Santos (recurring guest star Jimmy Smits) to establish their campaign headquarters. But problems arise from the beginning when they set up the office in an abandoned shack, and personal differences about the campaign's goals become evident. Meanwhile, as Donna and Will work together on the Vice President's campaign, Will tells Donna that in order for their partnership to work, she needs to acknowledge that she is no longer on the same team as Josh.