Clinton Presidential Center Presents What’s Next? The Legacy of “The West Wing”
Join us on Monday, August 26 at 6 p.m. CT, when the Clinton Presidential Center Presents What’s Next? The Legacy of “The West Wing,” held in conjunction with the Clinton Center’s newest temporary exhibit, “Commanding the Screen: The American Presidency in Film and Television.” The program will feature a conversation with “The West Wing” actors Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack who have just released their book, “WHAT’S NEXT: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service.”
Register here to attend the program in person at the Clinton Presidential Center or to tune in live online.
About “What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service”
The book invites readers to step back inside the world of President Jed Bartlet’s Oval Office with Fitzgerald and McCormack as they reunite “The West Wing” cast and crew in a lively and colorful “backstage pass” to the timeless series.
From cast member origin stories to the collective cathartic farewell on the show’s final night of filming, “WHAT’S NEXT” gives readers on-set and off-camera anecdotes that even “The West Wing” superfans have never heard. Meanwhile, a deeper analysis of the show’s legacy through American culture, service, government, and civic life underscores how the series envisaged an American politics of decency and honor, creating an aspirational White House beyond the bounds of fictional television.
After the program, the authors will sign copies of their books, which are available for purchase on-site at the Clinton Museum Store.
About “Commanding the Screen: The American Presidency in Film and Television”
“Commanding the Screen” presents the leading role of the president in American society through the lens of television and film. This exhibition invites visitors to explore cinematic performances of fictional and real-life presidents, and examine how America’s spirit, values, and historical journey are reflected in these portrayals of the Commander in Chief. It features original costumes, authentic props, and other memorabilia from portrayals of the American presidency on screen.
ASL interpretation is available during our events.
Clinton Presidential Center Presents is a partnership between the Clinton Foundation, Clinton School of Public Service at the University of Arkansas, and Clinton Presidential Library.
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About the Authors
Melissa Fitzgerald is an actor, producer, and social justice advocate. As an actor, Fitzgerald is best known for her seven-year role as Carol on the award-winning television series, “The West Wing.” While in Hollywood, Melissa co-founded Voices in Harmony, a mentoring program that uses theater to work with historically underserved teens. She took Voices in Harmony to war-torn northern Uganda to work with former abducted child soldiers, resulting in the award-winning documentary “After Kony: Staging Hope.” She is also co-executive producer of “Halfway Home,” a film that profiles several returning veterans as they share their struggles reintegrating after experiencing the trauma of war. In 2013, Fitzgerald left Hollywood to champion justice system reform at All Rise where she is at the forefront of engaging the public in the expansion of treatment courts and advancing justice system responses for individuals impacted by substance use and mental health disorders. She has been published in The New York Times and The Washington Post and is a recipient of the Secretary of the Army’s Public Service Medal. Fitzgerald is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. She lives in Washington, DC.
Mary McCormack is an actor, producer, and activist who played Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper on “The West Wing.” A Tony-nominated Broadway actress, she is known for a diversity of roles across film, television, and theater. McCormack is an outspoken advocate for a whole host of causes, from social justice and women’s rights to veterans’ issues and criminal justice reform. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three daughters.