The West Wing: A Coincidence? I think not!
I dedicate this passage to my bro JOE and his love for the WEST WING!
Maybe I am just oblivious or maybe I am just not intune with the history of the United States. You can pick whichever one you favor. Again, I think I have my most random thoughts and random theories late at night... Like 3am as in tonight. I know I write these random posts often and I usually like to let you know my train of thought up to the point where I make my thought. I was looking for things on tv and I came across The Scarlett Letter on Encore or some channel like that. I am bored and I don't believe I have seen it since I was in high school so I deciede to watch it. I never realized Demi Moore was in it but I guess that is beside the point of my whole story. As I am watching I find myself making fun of their fake accents and mimicing them. (I do realize I am a dork and you do not have to remind me of it.) Somehow my random brain thinks I need a new challenge so why don't I memorize something that I can speak with in such a accent. In my head this is just an old english accent so I think hmm... I already know the preamble to the constitution, what about the Gettysburg Address. That would be useful to quote! (RIGHT... next time I find myself at a civil war dinner party or on Jeopardy... whichever comes first.) I look up the Gettysburg address then I think what else could be similar... how about the Declaration of Independence. I know you are all wondering when the West Wing is coming into this... Gimme a minute. I find the declaration of independence online and am scrolling through it when at the bottom I see the names of everyone who signed the Declaration of Independence and I recognize a name. (YES, I did recognize other than one name! Don't make fun of me!) One of the people signing representing New Hampshire was Josiah Bartlett. I am seeing this... Josiah Bartlett! Thats the president on the WEST WING! A Coincidence??? I think not! Now I am just getting into the West Wing but if I am not mistaken, didn't he come from New Hampshire also? Here is another thing to ponder... Am I the only person who did not realize the significance of his name???
After this grand assumption I find myself looking at the names of others who signed the Declaration of Independence... maybe you might recognize them!
Samuel Adams - Thats some good BEER!
John Hancock - Where do you want me to put mine?
Benjamin Franklin - OK... no pun but we just all know who he is!
Thomas Jefferson - We all know him too!
OK.. those are the main ones I recognize.. I am most shocked by the WEST WING name and THE BEER! I don't think I realized the origin of either name! Please tell me I am not the only one!
posted by Amy Roberts | 3:29 AM
3 Comments:
Thank you for the touching dedication. :)
Yes, they used the name of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and yes, Josiah Bartlett of West Wing is also former governor of New Hampshire.
Beyond that, however, their stories diverge. The REAL Josiah Bartlett was a Doctor of Medicine... whereas the WW version has a doctorate in economics, of all things. Furthermore, on the West Wing, his wife (the first lady) is Abigail Bartlett. In real life, he was married to Mary Bartlett, and no, that's not her married name, that's also her maiden name. They were cousins. I guess that would be a bit too scandalous for today's standards.
Oh, and Samuel Adams was a cousin of John Adams, the 2nd president of the US. That was an answer on Jeopardy! last night. He does make a mighty fine brew.
Abby,
Did not know Josiah Bartlett signed the Constitution, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Sam Adams was a key person in the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution(It was on the History Channel last weekend, so i didn't know he signed the constitution before that). He was a son of a brewer and also took on the job himself, although he is noted as being a failed brewer and businessman, so it's interesting that Sam Adams brew exists (never had it myself). Oh yeah, the beer is made by Boston Beer Company was established in 1984, a while after Sam Adam's time.
Don't you love the internet?
Well, yes, it was on purpose. They actually do say the Martin Sheen president is related to an original framer, or signer.... So I'm pretty sure old Aaron Sorkin knew he wanted a president with a rich political history, but not someone so obvious as a decendant of Jefferson or Franklin. And the spelling is different. Can't remember how they explained it, but it's been acknowledged
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