Aaron Sorkin has said that the biggest regret he had was not getting Emily/Ainsley as a permanent star. But with the show only in its second season and already having a large main cast all they could offer was a recurring guest role. When CSI Miami was in the works she was approached by the writers and offered a permanent leading role for that show. And with a lead role comes more job security and more money. Realistically, at the time, she made the right decision and still came back throughout the series as a guest star. But I think the show would have benefited greatly having her as a lead. Her chemistry with the cast, Rob Lowe especially, was astounding. My favourite scene between the two of them will always be Blame It On The BossaNova. But there are brilliant scenes thrown in there too. Emily herself has even said that she would have loved to stay on The West Wing but she needed something with more security so she ended up going with CSI.

Sam's working relationship with Ainsley Hayes is the closest TWW ever came to justifying the original premise of Rob Lowe being the show's lead, for me personally. The way he defended her when she was wronged, the way he listened to her in this scene, and the way he generally respected her all model for us the conduct we ought to aspire to in our treatment of political adversaries. I'd like to have seen a lot more of Ainsley on TWW.

I really wish we had more Ainsley Hayes in TWW. She was a very interesting character.

You cut out the best part, that great pan around the office and back to Ainsley and her face with that "holy shit, I work at the White House" look on her face.

She reversed his position, and also gained a doughnut. It was a good day.

"It's a short day, Ainsley, and a big country. We've got to move fast."

This is why this was one of the best shows ever made.

I loved Ainsley Hayes since her first episode. She was a fantastic character and Emily Procter played her beautifully.

Love how nonchalant Leo is when he asks "You got turned around?" and Sam affirms, he just says "OK, good." Really illustrates how much faith he has in Sam's judgement. Leo seemed perfectly willing to go either way on the issue. When Sam says "we're going this way", Leo didn't give it a second thought. It's great to have lieutenants/deputies like Sam/Josh.

I love that Ainsley knows exactly what she´s doing when she hands Sam the summary. If Sam´s reaction would come as a surprise to her, she would have given it to him and walked back to her office. Instead she calmly sits down and waits for Sam to come back to get answers.

"we play with live ammo around here" . . . man there was fuckin' alchemy in this show. Sorkin has done other good things. I really like Money Ball & Social Network & Newsroom. . . . but the MAGIC of this show is uncanny.

She is a wonderfull actress. Too bad the last bit of the scene was not shown. Ainsley watches all the staff being busy with work and realizes she is part of it as well.

What I love about this scene is, sam changes his entire point of view based on facts and persuasion by Ainsley. That humility, respect is more important to an argument than who is right. That two people can have different views on how country should be run but come together to exchange ideas for the betterment of the country. Idealistic? Yes, but we should always shoot for the stars and only then may we reach the moon.

50% of the series is people saying the same thing over and over and getting a different answer everytime. It's magical

"I was just talking Sam, I was just talking to you." "Well, we play with live ammo around here" Priceless

There are many West Wing performers who have Rob Lowe to thank. Even the other obviously great West Wing actors looked even better when they shared a scene with him. His contributions to the show were vastly undervalued.

As a federal govt worker nearing retirement, this show always inspired me to do good work.

I love that she is so puzzled and shook. She was arguing her point like always and to her it was normal. She was almost used to being so passionate about her points but no one (especially Democrats) not taking her seriously or listening. Yet, when she humorously argued her point to Sam, she was a critical reason to a change by the president. She probably never imagined having impact on that large of a scale.

"I don't understand what just happened. I don't understand. I was just TALKING, Sam. I was just TALKING to you. So because I said this in here, the President in there is going to ... You've got to tell me when that's going to happen."

I love how Ainsley hand Sam his two-page summary, watches him walk into his office, walks over to a nearby desk, perches on it, and just waits. She knows what’s coming and doesn’t bother to hide or explain or defend herself, she just waits.

"Will somebody get her a cupcake!" One of the best lines from a serious drama.

Oh man, this clip leaves off the ending, the best part, the denouement! FTR, after this clip ends, the camera pans 360 degrees around the office, then back to Ainsley, who then walks away with a small, proud, appreciative smile that says "Holy shit, I work in the fucking White House."

"not to let the facts interfere with a good story" I am using this all the time from now on

I love that Sam didn’t really lose his mind. He just asked Ainsley to start from the beginning and let her have the doughnut

Can you imagine a fiery debate between Ainsley and Toby? The room would melt!

Having never seen the episode, I choose to believe that the person leaning over in front at the end was getting her a cupcake. :P

2020 reboot of west wing with president seaborn married to ainsley.... and josh being dragged kicking and screaming back into chief of staff role...

I think Ainsley thought every decision is made in a dramatic way. It's not. It's usually done almost: "Click-click, next!"

Literally my favourite relationship in TWW, Ainsley and Sam. They are literally the best.

This is governing: choosing the right option for the people. It should have nothing to do with republican of democrate. It;s a pitty the last bit was cut where Ainsley looks around and feels she is part of the team that runs the country.

Ainsley and Sam were the best. I loved their initial scenes, on the TV show debating an issue. Josh ran through the offices to yell at Toby "Hurry! Sam's getting his ass kicked by a girl!" Emily Proctor was brilliant. Then Matthew Perry got to be the smart Republican in the group. I loved this show!!

"This is from an independent study that I have faith in."

If this doesn't make you want to work in government, your soul is dead.

Quote from Ainsley's interview, "The President likes smart people who disagree with him"

"we play with live ammo" - fantastic.

Not fer nuttin' ... but you cut off the best little bit of that scene ... The 360˚ pan around the room and the look on Ainsley's face when it comes back around to her.

"The West Wing" was often criticised for it's liberal outlook, however the series also showed conservative characters who were intelligent, thoughtful and fair minded (ie: Ainsley Hayes)....... Despite the potshots that the Republicians took during the run of the series, the show's writers were smart enough not to group them all into the same category.... The series could also demonstrate from time to time just how stupid some Democrats could be as well....

Three minutes twenty-four sseconds of brilliance. Now, that's what you call INVOLVING television drama!

"Guess what professor," I love that line.

We play with live ammo around here. Great quote.

I love her 'wait for it' business. Puts down her briefcase, smooths her coat, and waits...

that girl has the biggest sweet-tooth of any character on tv, she's always eating something sweet (Peach, cupcake, donut) seriously, half of her scenes have her eating something tasty

You cut off the video too soon! Watching Ainsley look around the office is a powerful moment where we realize that anyone can make a difference. I love this show!

the *greatest* show in the _history_ of television.....

I think Ainsley is one of the few ladies that can rhetorically pwn Sam on a consistent basis... miss her, miss the show =(

Not to let facts get in the way of a good story..... God damn we haven't learned very much since this show

"Play with live ammo" I use that phrase a lot.

I loved her character. She played it so well.

That last moment, when she was looking around at Sam’s doorway, she had the same feeling Charlie got when he was hired.

Ainsley was a great mixture of confidence and insecurity, or maybe it was more that she had clear ideas about her own abilities. It was very enjoyable to see her come to want a place in the WW, and then proceed to earn that place.

Even if you know every single scene in every episode, you're compelled to go back and binge watch this series again and again. I think I've gone through the whole series at least 7 times since it was closed out. And I don't consider it time wasted. Sorkin was magnificent!

"Not to let the facts get in the way of a good story"

My favorite part about Sam was that he unlike other people like Toby for example took the time to listen to people like ainsley. We need more people like him in politics today. If both sides took the time to listen to each other life would be very different.

"In fact, I can't believe I'm listening to a Republican" I love that line! hey, I'm a Republican and I love Sam, even though he's a Democrat! Wish all democrats were like him in real life.

I love this scene, but you cut it short. The cap of the scene is her watching the dozens of ordinary people going about their work to run the country, and the expression on her face of how proud she is of them, and the realization that she's one of them. Thanks for reminding me though.

“Can somebody get her a donut or something” why I love that line so much I don’t know! But it’s one of my favorites

One of the best scenes!

post more!! please! i loved her in this show!! she was just the cutest and adorable woman ever!

Underappreciated: Sam and Ainsley were discussing/debating this for *an hour and a half* before we got to this scene.

I just adored her character.

"We play with live ammo around here." The responsibility of great power

It's a short day and a big country, we gotta move fast. Lol

One of my favourite characters, Ainsley and Mrs Langerham.

"Is this how you guys go to war?" 😆

Luckily Sam knows the 1st rule of closing a sale........When you get a Yes....Shut Up

'Would you like to step inside?' Sh*t's about to get real... Sorkin-style!

Why I love this show? Seeing the way things should be vs the way it is now.

I love how she is always eating.

“I don’t understay-and” god help me I love her accent so much. Wish she could have been a permanent fixture on the show!

i love ainsley hayes

My favorite West Wing character. Emily Procter.

Ainsley🌹

I don't know why these 2 never became a couple

I wish it showed the part where the camera pans around the room back to Ainsley as it sinks in she's where she always wanted to be

”The President asked you to serv and the rest is just crap”. Some thing to think about🤓🇸🇪

I was more than a little disappointed that in the following pan around shot someone didnt in fact give her a cup cake. :)

I love this show so very much, right up to the moment when Aaron Sorkin left. This is an example of what didn't happen once Mr. Sorkin was no longer writing for the show. Would that there was a Sorkin show on now... I'll take more West Wing, more Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip and or more Newsroom, yes, please, thank you. OR something new, as long as writing God Aaron Sorkin is writing.

Why was she always eating food? Its a great hilarious part of her character.

Ainsley is so cute she prounces Sam like it's two syllables

Ainsley Hayes, is yet another West Wing character that was criminally underused. I understand their is only so much dialogue to go around, but I felt she was potential lost.

1:32 - Sam's smug smile gradually fades. I love their chemistry.

Great line - "it's a short day Ainsley, and a big country, we have to move fast."

I remember liking this show when it first aired but watching it now, the show gets too cute with the dialogue. I'm 50 now

That look at the end there is her thinking: Is someone actually getting me a cupcake?

"Is this how you guys decide to go to war?" I don't think she wants to know the answer to that question.

I so love the running joke that she is always wanting a donut or pastry, etc. Does the poor girl not eat? lol. Great character, not enough episodes for her imo. Great foil for Sam and the rest of the staff.

uhg they had so much potential!!!

The part after this is where she watches all the people work. Then she meets with her friends, and tells them she is "their lawyer", referring to the people in the White House. Her friends are shocked.

Facts. Facts, guide decisions ... it does not matter where they come from, or who is communicating them.

Since when did politicians in either party give a f*** about facts when trying to get ahead politically?

And the next few seconds actually finished that scene properly. Showed a bustling white house all going about their busy schedules like ants. But anyhow, a great few scenes, glad somebody shared these. Thanks

His utter bafflement, taken aback at the audacity :-D

I loved her character.

Sam--get down on your knee and give her the ring already ! Your never ever going to do better than Ainsley.

Instead of the "can somebody get her a cupcake or something" line, I would have liked to have seen Sam say to her something like "go home, call your father and tell him how you got a law written."

Much loved character. They did not utilise her enough.

I LOVE Ainsley Hayes ❤️❤️

“We play with live ammo around here.” Love the writing.

I miss the me back when this aired. I used to believe in things.

This scene and a few others really posits the need to have had more of Ainsley in TWW.