Toby's in a meeting with people regarding the political composition of the Blue Ribbon Commission. Someone's telling him that the Commission will not be credible with their people unless there's someone on there who's a friend of Labour. Someone else adds, "And a friend of seniors." Toby asserts, "The President's a friend of Labour, a friend of seniors, a friend of small animals..." The other guys are not amused. Toby points out that they're running out of time to get things going; they announced this in the State of the Union address. One guy insists that promises made in the address are Toby's problem. Another guy doesn't see the need for lightning speed. Toby says, "Really?" The guy who said that continues, "If current economic conditions continue..." Toby interjects, "Forever? You mean if we never have another recession ever again? Then the fund can withstand all of thirty years before going bankrupt. Unfortunately, the actuarial tables say I won't be dead yet!" He pauses. "Guys...Gillette's a tough needle to thread. I want to know that we have your trust that whoever we do get will look out for your interests and that you therefore will support the Commission." No one speaks. Toby asks, "Can I assume from your total silence and blank faces that you're all with me?" One guy suggests, "Maybe if we, uh, talk some more..." Toby, with restrained sarcasm in his voice: "Oh, could we?"

Josh catches up with C.J. on his way back from his mission to get Millicent to resign. C.J. says, "She didn't?" Josh tells her no, and that Leo's going to need to talk with her some more. He instructs her to "walk back" some of the things she said in her briefing. Josh doesn't really get to finish before C.J. jumps in to tell him about an even stickier problem, which is that Danny Concannon is quoting Eleanor Bartlet as saying, "My father won't fire the Surgeon General. He would never do that." Josh is pretty surprised and says, "Eleanor? You mean Zoey." She tells him firmly, "No. It was Eleanor." Josh sighs and walks off.

Meanwhile, Air Force One has touched down and, as they disembark, Jed is rambling on to Charlie about his meetings in Japan. "They're trying to export their way out of their own economic problems. And by dumping low-priced steel on the U.S., you know what they're asking for?" Charlie replies, "A protectionist response." Jed says, "They're begging for a protectionist response. Steel and mining employ 170,000 workers. They're not going to sit around while discount steel comes flying into..." He's greeted by someone from a distance and interrupts his ramble to call out, "How you doin'?" Jed continues, "They're going to want retaliatory tariffs, and you know what that means?" Charlie does: "A return to Smoot-Hawley and the Great Depression." Jed: "A return to Smoot-Hawley and the Great Depression." Charlie says, "You should go to Japan and tell them that, sir." Just then, Leo comes up to them from behind. Jed turns and says, "Leo, I'm walking over to the press and telling that retaliatory tariffs are gonna cost American taxpayers $800,000 for every job saved." Leo announces, "We're not taking questions. Let's get in the car." They start walking in the opposite direction and Jed quietly asks Leo, "What's going on?" Leo says, "Eleanor made a comment on the record and you can't answer questions right now." Jed says, "Eleanor? You mean Zoey." Leo says, "It was Eleanor." Jed's looks increasingly concerned and he asks, "When did this happen?" Leo tells him it was six hours ago. Jed wants to know why Leo didn't tell him six hours ago. Leo says, "'Cause I didn't want you crash-landing the plane. Let's get in the car." An assistant -- I believe it's Nancy (Renee Estevez -- I've never gotten a good grip on what she looks like, she's onscreen so little) -- holds the limo door for Jed and welcomes him home. He says, "Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto..." No, he doesn't. He's in no mood to goof around. We go to commercials.