Monday, January 09, 2006

In Memoriam: John Spencer (12/20/46 - 12/16/2005)



























































































































































Quotes

LEO
Yeah! [He walks into his office.] Margaret. Please call the editor of the New York Times crossword and tell him that ‘Khaddafi’ is spelled with an h, and two d’s, and
isn’t a seven letter word for anything.

MARGARET
Is this for real? Or is this just funny?

LEO
Apparently, it’s neither.
***
LEO
[on the phone] Seventeen across. Yes. Seventeen across is wrong. You’re spelling his name wrong. What’s my name? My name doesn’t matter. I’m just an ordinary citizen who relies on the Times crossword for stimulation. And I’m telling you, that I’ve met with the man twice, and I’ve recommended a preemptive Exocet Missile attack against his airforce. So, I think I know how to...

C.J.
[waves to Margaret and walks in] Leo!

LEO
[he looks at the phone, then hangs up] They hang up on me. Every time.
~~~~~Pilot
LEO
Andrew Jackson, in the main foyer of his White House had a big block of cheese.

TOBY
Hmmm.

Some of the White House Staffers giggle lightly.

LEO
I am making a mental list of those who are snickering, and even as I speak I’m preparing appropriate retribution. [beat] The block of cheese was huge--over two tons. And it was there for any and all who might be hungry.
***
TOBY
Leo, wouldn’t this time be better spent plotting a war against a country that can’t
possibly defend itself against us?

LEO
We can do that later, Toby. Right now I’m talking about President Andrew Jackson.

SAM
Actually, right now, you’re talking about a big block of cheese.

LEO
And Sam goes on my list!

SAM
What about Toby?

LEO
I’m unpredictable. [beat] Jackson wanted the White House to belong to the people, so from time to time, he opened his doors to those who wished an audience.

MANDY
And then he locked the doors behind them and made them eat two tons of cheese.

LEO
It is in that spirit...

SAM
Hang on. Mandy doesn’t go on the list?

LEO
Mandy’s new.

SAM
So it’s just me... on the list?

LEO
Yes. It is in the spirit of Andrew Jackson that I, from time to time, ask senior staff to have face-to-face meetings with those people representing organizations who have a difficult time getting our attention. [beat] I know the more jaded among you, see this as something rather beneath you. But I assure you that listening to the voices of passionate Americans is beneath no one, and surely not the peoples’ servants.
~~~~~~~~~The Crackpots and These Women

LEO
And we’re gonna lose some of these battles, and we might even lose the White House, but we’re not gonna be threatened by issues. We’re gonna put them front and center. We’re gonna raise the level of public debate in this country, and let that be our legacy.[turns to Josh] That sound all right to you, Josh?
~~~~~~~~ Let Bartlet be Bartlet

LEO
How'd it go?

JOSH
[turns] Did you wait around for me?

Leo takes off his glasses.

JOSH
He thinks I may have an eating disorder.

LEO
[gets up] Josh.

JOSH
And a fear of rectangles. That's not weird, is it? [pause] I didn't cut my hand on a glass. I broke a window in my apartment.

LEO
This guy's walking down a street, when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep. He
can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up "Hey you! Can you help me out?" The doctor writes him a prescription, throws it down the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole! Our guy says "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here!" and the friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out."

Josh looks at him.

LEO [cont.]
As long as I got a job, you got a job, you understand? [gestures to Josh's hand]
~~~~~Noel

Articles
CNN Chat August 2000
September 2000 Interview with PBS
Interview with NPR's Fresh Air
NPR Celebrity Gardeners (Transcript)
7th Annual SAG Awards Speech
February 2002 Interview
Febuary '04 Article "It's good to have irascible Leo Back"
Appearance at '05 SAG Awards
John Spencer's Health
Interview Clip on Amazaon.com


Links
Wikipedia Article John Spencer(editable by anybody)
Wikipedia Article Leo McGarry (editable by anybody)
Photos from Wireimage
Share your favorite "Leo" episodes
IMDB Biography

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What more needs to be said. We'll miss you.