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The West Wing
Max
Executive Leadership in Public Service

Let Bartlet Be Bartlet: Ethics of Public Leadership

Aaron Sorkin's White House is an idealized but rigorous portrait of executive decision-making. Use Bartlet, Leo, and the senior staff to study leadership under scrutiny and the discipline of public service.

IntermediateProfessional development

Modules

Module 1

The Executive's Day

Anchor scene

'Walk and talk'

In this module

  • Time as scarcest resource
  • Staffing the principal
  • Meetings that actually decide

Course outcomes

  • Balance competing goods in high-stakes public decisions
  • Structure a senior staff for candor and speed
  • Communicate policy to press, public, and yourself
  • Recover from public mistakes with integrity