In the pre-credits sequence there is one continuous steadycam shot which begins when the president leaves the ball room and ends when he reaches the motorcade outside. To get there the ensemble have to travel down flights of stairs, along corridors and keep the dialogue going with pin-point precision! Says Rob Lowe: "You'll have to ask Thomas Schlamme how many takes it was. It was either in the twenties or the thirties. The steadycam operator literally fell over from exhaustion when it was done. It's amazing that we did that in a weekly television show. In a movie, that would be a staggering achievement."
The long Steadicam shot in the episode teaser took thirteen takes and five hours of filming to accomplish.
Martin Sheen almost kills the "walk and talk" at the beginning of the show? As the ensemble nears the exit of the building, Sheen delivers his line about Toby (Richard Schiff) being a 'pain the ass'. If you listen carefully there is a groaning sound - Charlie (Dulé Hill) jumps in with "Mr President" and Sheen replies "Oh yes, Charlie, by the way - did the first lady call?" Sheen had forgotten his line and Hill jumped in to try and save the scene.
While President is high on his back pills, he tells his aide Charlie that "Charlie's a great name." Martin Sheen, who plays President Bartlet, named his youngest son "Carlos" but nicknamed him "Charlie".
President Bartlet (Martin Sheen)'s back problems and medication is similar to the real back problems of President John F. Kennedy.