"A Sobering Anniversary by Danny Concannon"
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The West Wing and its characters are the property of Aaron Sorkin, Warner
Brothers and NBC. No Copyright Infringement is intended.
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The White House relies on keeping a finger on the pulse of public opinion.
On days it beats steadily, things are good; on days it throbs, late night
meetings are common; on days it's thready, frantic measures are taken.
Senior White House reporter Danny Concannon often is in the center of that
vibration. His stories are always must reads for the West Wing. His
experience, his contacts, and his ability are second to none.
One of his strong points is a good memory. He's known for follow ups that
touch on issues people are still interested in.
With that in mind, Danny requested a one on one interview with Chief of
Staff, Leo McGarry. It would coincide with the one year anniversary of
McGarry's public disclosure that he was a recovering alcoholic and drug
addict.
White House Press Secretary C.J. Cregg relayed the request to Leo and
reserved her comments. The West Wing Staff still walked on egg shells about
that chapter in Leo's life. They knew it was the ultimate private matter in
a very private man's life.
When he was forced to make it public because of an attack by the rival
party, it was torture for him. But Leo shunned all offers of outward support
from those who loved him and faced the media alone.
He survived, as did the Bartlet White House. Now, one year later, Leo was in
the forefront of the Administration's drive to focus on treatment for drug
users. It was a move away from automatically sending drug users to prison.
Leo considered Danny's interview request on his own. Then, he asked for and
got the comments and concerns of the Senior Staff. He consulted with his
assistant, Margaret; then his daughter, Mallory. Finally, he turned to his
best friend, the President.
Then Leo did what they all knew he would do. He quoted the Serenity Prayer,
"God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change; the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
It meant he would face his demons again. Leo was secure and serene that his
better angels would keep him safe once more.
Danny allowed a few days lead time on the interview. He and Leo were the
only ones in Leo's office for the session. Neither of them revealed anything
about what had been said.
After their chat, Leo appeared calm. Danny was seen pounding his keyboard,
muttering to himself and endlessly checking his notes and listening again to
the audio tape. It seemed like Danny was putting more effort into this
particular story.
The day Danny's story finally ran, more than one person in the West Wing
held their breath and crossed their fingers as they opened the paper.
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A Sobering Anniversary
by Danny Concannon
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One year ago today, Leo McGarry faced the media. Not unusual duty for the
White House Chief of Staff, but this was an unusual occasion. This time, he
didn't speak about a Bartlet White House political initiative. This time, he
faced the cameras, tape recorders and notebooks as "a recovering alcoholic
and recovering drug addict."
McGarry spoke out to quiet the allegations by Congressman Peter Lillienfield
about drug use at the White House. The Republican claimed one in six White
House staffers used drugs.
The White House Chief of Staff announced he was coming forward to put a face
on those numbers. He said at the time: "The White House is no different than
any work place including Congress. People suffer from the diseases of
alcoholism and drug addiction. But I am here to tell you they can recover."
McGarry detailed his treatment at an Arizona center and his continuing
battle to stay clean and sober. He agreed to sit down with me in his White
House Office. In this exclusive interview he reflected on the year following
his public declaration and his hopes for the future.
Danny Concannon: "You've been sober now for seven years. What do you
attribute it to?"
Leo McGarry: "It's the old standard. I take it 'One Day At A Time'. I attend
meetings, I work my program. I count on family and friends."
D.C.: "How often do you attend meetings?"
L.McG.: "One of the traditions I follow is confidentiality. All I'm willing
to say is that the program helped save my life and continues to be a life
line. It allows me to function."
D.C.: "Can you tell us about reaction from inside and outside the Beltway to
your disclosure?"
L.McG.: "It followed party lines for the most part. But some of those in the
Republican party would be surprised to know I have some supporters on that
side of the aisle. Alcoholism does not run down party lines. I heard from
many people around the country, other 'friends of Bill' and most wished me
well. They were glad to see they're not fighting this battle alone."
D.C.: "Do you sense a difference in the people around the White House?"
L.McG.: "They always ask me to be the designated driver." (He laughed-D.C.)
"Yes and no, a typical political answer. Yes, I believe sometimes they worry
some problem they bring to me will drive me over the edge, drive me to
drink. They don't want to be responsible for sending me back to a bottle.
It's hard for them to realize they won't be responsible. I make the choice,
to give into temptation or to keep working to stay sober.
But it's also 'No'. It's no different. The Staff here contains the most
dedicated, supportive, forgiving group I've met outside of meetings."
D.C.: "What does that mean to you?"
L.McG.: "There are no words to describe that kind of loyalty. There were
calls for me to resign after I revealed I was a recovering alcoholic and
addict. But the President would not let me even consider it. Everyone here
backed him up. It was quite a gift."
D.C.: "A few months later, you became the Bartlet Administration's point man
on some innovational and controversial drug program proposals."
L.McG.: "Well, I know the subject well. Seriously, I am also proof treatment
works. Not everyone can afford treatment, we need to change that. Prison
isn't always the answer and if it is the answer it needs to be applied
equally without regard to race or economic status."
D.C.: "Does that make the Bartlet White House soft on crime?"
L.McG.: "An old argument, you've heard before from previous opponents of
previous administrations. We're not surprised it's surfaced again.
This President and this Administration are not soft on crime. We know first
hand how devastating crime can be. We are realistic about it and the role
drugs play in it. We're showing people that dollars spent on drug treatment
are a better value than most dollars spent on drug sentences.
It's like spending more money on preventative health care to save money on
the higher cost of hospitalization."
D.C.: "Politically and personally, it's been a traumatic year. You mentioned
this Administration being touched by crime, there was a shooting that
wounded the President and your Deputy Chief of Staff. Was this the toughest
year for you to stay on the wagon?"
L.McG.: "It's not a year to me. It's 'One Day At A Time'. On difficult days;
it's an hour, maybe a minute at a time. You look at it that way and soon
those days turn into a year. Another year of sobriety."
D.C.: "But it was difficult?"
L.McG.: "It's never easy to go through a divorce and a public scandal about
substance abuse let alone a violent attack on your co-workers and friends.
But my family and friends never wavered in their support for me despite
their own difficulties. Did I want some form of relief when the President
and Josh Lyman (Deputy Chief of Staff-Ed.) were shot? Yes. But that would
have kept me from being of any help to them. It would have insulted the
faith, trust and kindness they'd offered to me."
D.C.: "With apologies to the Vice President, many political observers say
the Chief of Staff is the second most powerful person in the Executive
Branch. What is it like to be that man and to carry your, well, for want of
a better word, baggage?"
L.McG.: "Some days the bags are lighter than others. It is an honor to be of
service to the American people and President Bartlet. Any power that I have
comes from my job and the trust placed in me by this President. I try every
day to live up to that daunting responsibility. Some days I succeed, some
days I fail. But I'm satisfied I always try to do my best."
D.C.: "Alcoholics Anonymous hands out chips for special anniversaries like
another year of sobriety. Do you get one for marking this occasion?"
L.McG.: "No. When all the dust settled it became just one more day that I
was successful in staying sober. Personally, that's all I can focus on,
what's at hand."
D.C.: "You are known for valuing your privacy. Why agree to talk about
this?"
L.McG.: "People are curious, people are supportive. People need to know
there's not a drugged out drunk psycho near the Oval Office. (Laughs)This is
the last time I plan to talk about this. My recovery continues, I consider
this my thank you to those who have been there for me in the bad times and
now the better times."
D.C.: "What about the people who brought this out to try to destroy you?"
L.McG.: "You know, I thank them too. I'm grateful now that this came out. It
can't be used to hurt my daughter or the President or the White House. I say
it bodes well for the future."
D.C.: "You're optimistic?"
L.McG.: "I never go that far. But I'm ready for the next challenge. In fact,
we're done. I need to get back to work."
###
There was a collective whoosh of released breath in the White House as
people finished the article and closed the newspaper.
Mallory and Margaret exchanged verbal high fives in a phone call. Then
Mallory told her Dad how proud she was of him. That praise matched any
alcoholic buzz Leo ever remembered.
Vice President John Hoynes raised a cup of coffee to his occasional nemesis
but fellow 'friend of Bill'. Leo had kept the traditions and bond of
confidentiality. Still, he'd put a positive light on the program. Leo was a
familiar face and now, a hope to others.
Sam couldn't find the words to express his admiration to Leo or his
appreciation to Danny. After littering the ground with his attempts, he
settled on a smile and a nod to Leo. Sam offered a thumb's up to Danny. Both
gestures worked as well as words.
Toby decided he might have phrased the questions differently. He figured
there were other ways Leo could have answered the questions. But overall,
Toby believed Leo's words spoken in Leo's own fashion presented the White
House and the Chief Of Staff in the best light.
Josh knew first hand about living in the uncomfortable glare of the
spotlight after a life changing experience. He hoped when Danny came to him
to do a story on the anniversary of the shooting that he would speak as
eloquently as Leo. Josh shared that thought with both men. They assured him
that he'd do as well and be treated as fairly.
C.J. smiled and sent off an e-mail to Leo. Once again, he'd made her job
easier by being the honest, simple person whose goodness shone through. He'd
scored an important victory for the White House and for the pending
legislation about drug treatment instead of drug sentences.
She tapped the glass of the fish bowl where Gail swam around a small
typewriter figurine. The Goldfish reminded her of Danny's attentions. C.J.'s
underlying trust in him had been tested several times. It again, had
ultimately survived and was stronger.
C.J. wondered how she could convey all this to Danny and still keep him at
arms' length. Did she really want him that far away? Her musings were
interrupted by the phone. She grabbed it and her brisk greeting was answered
by the President's vibrant voice.
He told C.J. to find Danny immediately and bring him to the Oval Office. She
agreed and then hesitated. The President sensed her trepidation. He assured
her he only wanted to congratulate the reporter and thank him.
Jed Bartlet had already crossed the Oval Office to congratulate his Chief of
Staff. They tried to keep it on a professional level but their eyes betrayed
them.
The two men who had been best friends for as long as either could remember,
exchanged a look. In it, there was approval and admiration on one side,
acceptance and affection on the other.
The President moved back to his office.
Leo prepared to get on with his work. He fingered the latest anniversary
chip in his pocket ready to move ahead, "One Day At A Time."
The End