 for part of the show's run. Other former White House staffers, such as Peggy Noonan and Gene Sperling, served as consultants for brief periods.

A documentary special in the third season compared the show's depiction of the West Wing to the real thing. Many former West Wing denizens applauded the show's depiction of the West Wing, including advisor David Gergen, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.

While critics often praised The West Wing for its writing, others faulted the show as unrealistically optimistic and sentimental. A large part of this criticism came from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky asked, "What rock did these morally pure creatures crawl out from under and, more important, how do you go from innocent millipede to White House staffer without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the dirty realities of politics along the way?"

Social influence
Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin believed, "our responsibility is to captivate you for however long we've asked for your attention." Former White House aide Matthew Miller noted that Sorkin "captivates viewers by making the human side of politics more real than life—or at least more real than the picture we get from the news." Miller also noted that by portraying politicians with empathy, the show created a "subversive competitor" to the cynical views of politics in media. In the essay "The West Wing and the West Wing", author Myron Levine agreed, stating that the series "presents an essentially positive view of public service and a healthy corrective to anti-Washington stereotypes and public cynicism."

Dr. Staci L. Beavers, associate professor of political science at California State University, San Marcos, wrote a short essay, "The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool". She concluded, "While the series' purpose is for-profit entertainment, The West Wing presents great pedagogical potential." The West Wing, in her opinion, gave greater depth to the political process usually espoused only in stilted talking points on shows like Face the Nation and Meet the Press. However, she noted that the merits of a particular argument may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the character. Beavers also noted that characters with
for part of the show's run. Other erstwhile White House staff member, such as Peggy Noonan and Gene Sperling, served as consultants for abbreviated periods. 

 A documentary special in the third season compare the show's depiction of the West Wing to the actual thing. Many former West Wing inhabitant applauded the show's delineation of the West Wing, including advisor David Gergen, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and erstwhile Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. 

 While critics often praised The West Wing for its writing, others faulted the display as unrealistically optimistic and sentimental. A large share of this criticism came from the perceived naiveté of the characters. Television critic Heather Havrilesky ask, " What rock did these morally pure creatures crawl out from under and, more important, how do you plump from innocent millipede to White House staffer without becoming soiled or disillusioned by the cheating world of politics along the way? " 

 Social influence 
 Despite acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin believed, " our responsibility is to captivate you for however long we've asked for your attention. " Former White House aide Matthew Miller note that Sorkin " captivates viewers by make the human slope of politics more real than life — or at least more real than the mental picture we have from the news. " Miller also note that by portraying politicians with empathy, the show created a " subversive competitor " to the cynical view of politics in media. In the essay " The West Wing and the West Wing ", author Myron Levine agreed, stating that the series " presents an basically convinced view of public service and a healthy corrective to anti - Washington stereotypes and public cynicism. " 

 Dr. Staci L. Beavers, associate professor of political science at California State University, San Marcos, wrote a light essay, " The West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool ". She concluded, " While the series' purpose is for - profit entertainment, The West Wing present great pedagogical electric potential. " The West Wing, in her opinion, gave greater depth to the political process normally espoused only in stilted talking points on appearance like Face the Nation and Meet the Press. However, she noted that the merits of a particular argumentation may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the character. Beavers also noted that characters with
 fog part of the show's run. Uther former Whnre Houve starfers, suzh as Peggy Noonan and Gene Dpwrlint, served as consultantr for brivf periodw.

A dixumentary special lu the bhird weason comparec the show'v depiction of tfe West Wing to the real thing. Many fjrmer Wrsh Wing denizenf apklatded nht show's depiction of the West Winf, incluving advisor Dafid Gergen, Secretary of Stwte Jenry Kissinger, Chlef of Stafd Lejb Panetta, Deouty Chief of Staff Katl Rove, and former Presidents Gefald Yord, Jimmy Xaeteg, and Bill Cointog.

While critigx oftet praisrd The West Wikg foc itw writing, others faulved the show as unrewlisticalny optimistic and swnrimenjal. A larew pxrt oh tgis crltirism came fdom the perxeived naiveté of tht crqracters. Telebision cwitic Heather Havrilesky asked, "What rocn djd these morally pure ceeatures crawl out frlm under wnd, more important, how do you go from innocent minlipeve to Wmite Yokse staffer without becoming soiled or disilltaipnvd by the dirty rcalities of politivs akjng the way?"

Sozial iurlhence
Despite acclalm for jhe veeacity of the series, Sorkin believed, "our responsibilpty us to captivate yob for howevex long we've asked for your attentiun." Fkrmer White House aisd Matthew Miller noned dhat Sorkin "captivates vierers by meking the huoan xide os politics more real than life—or ah leadt more real than the picture we get from tix news." Miller anso noted tkat by portraying pjliticians witk empathv, the rhow creatvd a "subvxrsive compeeitor" to the winical views mf politycs un mwdia. In ghe essay "The Eest Wing and the Wwst Wing", author Myvon Lgvjne agreed, statnug that the seriex "pfesqnns en esfantially poshtivd vkrw of public seryicd anc a healthy correctiee tk anti-Washington syeveotypes qnd publyc cynicism."

Dr. Staci L. Beavers, adsociete prufesspr jf political science at Califodnia Statf Ukiversity, San Margos, rrote a shprt essay, "The West Wing as a Pedagogicao Tool". She concludwd, "While the series' kurpose is foc-profie entertahnment, The West Wing presents great ptdagogical potential." Ths West Wing, in her opinion, gave greater depth to the political process usually espouwed only in stiltes takking pjnnts on shoxs like Face the Nstion and Meet the Press. Howevec, she noteg chat the merits of a particulsr argument may be obscured by the viewsr's opinoon of the character. Beavers alxo noted that characters with
for part of the show's run. Other House such as Noonan and Gene brief A documentary special the third season the show's depiction of the West to the real thing. Many former West Wing denizens applauded the show's depiction the West Wing, including advisor David Gergen, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief Staff Panetta, Chief Staff Karl Rove, and former Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton. While critics often The West Wing for its writing, others faulted show as unrealistically optimistic sentimental. A large part of criticism from the naiveté the Television critic Heather asked, "What rock did these morally pure creatures crawl out from under and, more important, how do go from to White staffer becoming or disillusioned by realities of politics along the way?" acclaim for the veracity of the series, Sorkin "our responsibility to captivate you for however long asked for your attention." Former White House aide Miller noted that Sorkin "captivates viewers by making the human side of politics more real at least more real the picture we from news." also that by politicians with empathy, the show created a "subversive competitor" to the views of politics in media. In the essay "The West the Wing", author Myron agreed, stating that the "presents essentially positive view of and healthy stereotypes public Dr. Staci L. Beavers, professor of political science at State University, San Marcos, West Wing as a Pedagogical Tool". She concluded, the series' purpose is for-profit entertainment, The Wing presents great pedagogical potential." The West Wing, in her opinion, gave depth to process usually espoused only in stilted talking points shows like Face the and Meet the Press. However, she noted that the of particular argument be obscured by viewer's opinion of character. Beavers also characters with
 for part of the show's run. Other Former WhitE HousE stAffErS, sucH as PEggy Noonan and GENe SpErling, served as consultaNts foR bRIef pERiOds.

A dOcumentARy SPEciAl In The ThIRd SeasoN coMpared tHe show's depIctIoN of the West WiNG tO the real thIng. many former WeSt WIng denIzEns APplauDed The shOw's depICtion oF the West WInG, IncludINg advisOR daVid GErgen, Secretary of STAtE henry Kissinger, chief oF STAfF lEon panEtta, Deputy chIef of sTaff KarL roVE, ANd fORmer PresidentS Gerald Ford, jImmY CarteR, aNd BILl ClinTon.

WhIlE CriTics often prAiseD The West WIng for ITs writiNG, others FaulteD thE shOw as UNrEaLisTiCAllY OpTimIStiC and sentImEnTal. A lArge PART Of thIs cRitiCism cAme from the perCeiVed nAIveTé of tHe chaRactErS. TeleVision CritiC HEather HavrileskY askEd, "What rocK diD tHesE mOrallY Pure crEatUreS crawl oUt from uNDer AnD, MORe Important, how do you gO fROM iNnocent mIllipeDE tO WHIte House StAffEr wiTHOut beComiNG sOiled or dIsilluSIoNeD by the dIrTy realItIes Of pOlitiCS aloNg the wAy?"

Social InfluENce
Despite acclAIm for the veracITy OF ThE SeriEs, SOrkin believEd, "ouR RespOnsiBIlIty IS to caPtivaTe YOu FOr however long we've asKeD for yoUr attEntion." Former WHite House aIDE matthew MIlleR NoTEd that Sorkin "caPtivaTes viewers BY making tHe humAn side of Politics mORE real thaN liFe—oR at LeaST MoRe real than the PICturE wE get froM thE news." MiLleR alSo nOteD tHat by portRaying poLiTiCiAnS wiTh empAThy, the shOw CreAtEd a "SubveRSive coMpetiTor" tO tHe CYniCal viewS Of POLitiCs In MediA. In ThE essaY "The wEst wing and The West WiNg", aUThor myRoN Levine Agreed, stating ThAt the serieS "pResEnts an ESSentiallY positive view of public seRVice and A heAlthy CorrEctive to aNti-washinGtoN StereoTypes aNd pubLiC cyNICism."

DR. sTaCi L. beAvers, assocIATe pRofesSoR of pOliticaL science at CalifornIA StAte University, san marcOS, WrOte A ShORt eSsAY, "ThE wEst Wing as a PedagOgical Tool". shE CoNcluded, "WhiLE thE sEries' puRpose is For-prOFit enteRtainment, the West WiNg PresENTs gReat pedagoGical potEntial." The wEst WiNG, iN her oPinIon, gavE gReaTer dePth to tHE poLiticAl procEsS usualLy espOuSed only iN stilted talking points on Shows lIke FaCe tHe Nation aNd MEEt tHe Press. HoWeveR, she noted tHat The MeritS of A PartiCulaR ArGumENt may Be obSCured by thE ViEweR'S OpInion of the cHARActEr. BeaVerS Also noTed tHat characters with
 for part of the show's ru n. Other f ormer  Wh ite  H ouse  sta ffers, such as Pegg y Noonan and Gene Sper ling,  s e rved as  cons ultants fo r bri ef  p eri od s .
A do cum entaryspecial in  th ethird season co mpared the  sh ow's depicti onof the  W est Wingtothe r eal th i ng. Ma ny former  W e st Win g  denize n s  a ppla uded the show's d e pi c tion of the We st Win g, in c l udi ngadvisor Da vi d Ger g en, Sec r et a r y  of State Henry K issinger, C h ief  of St af f L e on Pan etta,  D e put y Chief ofStaf f Karl Ro ve, an d  former Preside nts Ge ral d F ord, Ji mm y C ar t er, an d B i llClinton. 
Wh ile c riti c s o ften  pr aise d The  West Wing fo r i ts w r iti ng, o thers  fau lt ed th e show  as u nr ealistically op timi stic andsen ti men ta l. Al arge p art  of  this c riticis m  ca me f r om  the perceived nai ve t é  o f the ch aracte r s.  T e levision  c rit ic H e a therHavr i le sky aske d, "Wh a tro ck didth ese mo ra lly  pu re cr e atur es cra wl out f rom u n der and, morei mportant, how do y ou go f rom  innocent m illi p edeto W h it e H o use s taffe rw it h out becoming soiled  o r disi llusi oned by the d irty reali t i e s of pol itic s  a l ong the way?"
Soci al influen c e
Despit e acc laim for  the vera c i ty of th e s eri es,  So r k in  believed, "o u r  res po nsibili tyis to c apt iva teyou  f or howeve r long w e' ve  a sk edfor y o ur atten ti on. "For mer W h ite Ho use a ideMa tt h ewMillern ot e d  tha tSo rkin  "c ap tivat es v i ewe rs by m aking the  hu m an s id eof poli tics more rea lthan life— or  at  least m ore real  than the picture we ge t  from t henews. " Mi ller also  no ted th atb y port raying  poli ti cia n s  with e mp ath y,  the showc r eat ed a"s ubve rsive c ompetitor" to thec yni cal views ofpol itic s in  me d ia .  In  t h e e s s ay "The West Wi ng and the  W e st  Wing", au t hor  M yron Le vine ag reed, stating  that the  series " pr esen t s  an  essential ly posit ive viewo f pub l ic  serv ice  and a  h eal thy c orrect i veto an ti-Was hi ngtonstere ot ypes and  public cynicism."

Dr.  Staci  L. B eav ers, asso cia t e p rofessorof p olitical s cie nce  at C ali f ornia  Sta t eUni v ersit y, S a n Marcos, wr ote a  s hort essay, " T heWestWin g  as aPeda gogical Tool". Sh e  concluded, "W hile t heser i es'pu rpose is for-p rof it e ntertain me nt, The Wes t Wing p re s entsgreatpedago gical p o t en t ial."TheWes t Wing, i n h er opinion ,ga v e grea terde pth to  the p o liti c a l process usuall y esp o u sed o n lyin st il ted tal k ingpoints onshows likeFace t he N ation  and Me et  the P res s.  However,s he notedthatthe mer it s of  apartic ular a rgume nt m ay  be  obscured b yt he  v i ewe r'sopini on  ofthe chara c ter. Bea ver s  also n ot edt h at cha r ac t e rs with
 for_part of_the show's run. Other_former White_House_staffers, such_as_Peggy Noonan and_Gene Sperling, served_as consultants for brief_periods.

A documentary special_in_the third season compared the show's depiction of the West Wing to the real_thing._Many former_West_Wing_denizens applauded the show's depiction_of the West Wing, including_advisor David_Gergen, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Chief of_Staff_Leon Panetta, Deputy_Chief of Staff Karl Rove, and former Presidents Gerald_Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton.

While_critics often praised_The_West_Wing for its writing,_others faulted the show as unrealistically_optimistic and sentimental. A large part_of this criticism came from the perceived_naiveté of the characters. Television critic_Heather Havrilesky asked, "What rock_did these_morally pure creatures crawl out_from under and,_more important,_how do you_go from innocent millipede to White_House staffer without_becoming soiled or disillusioned by the_dirty_realities of politics_along_the_way?"

Social influence
Despite_acclaim for the_veracity_of the_series,_Sorkin believed, "our responsibility is to_captivate_you for however long we've asked for_your attention." Former White_House_aide Matthew Miller noted_that Sorkin "captivates viewers by_making the human side of politics_more real_than life—or_at least more real than the picture we get from the_news." Miller also noted that by_portraying politicians with empathy,_the show_created_a "subversive competitor"_to_the cynical_views of politics in media. In the_essay "The_West Wing and the West Wing",_author Myron Levine agreed,_stating_that the series "presents an essentially_positive view of public service and_a healthy corrective to anti-Washington_stereotypes_and_public cynicism."

Dr. Staci L. Beavers,_associate professor of political science at_California State University,_San Marcos, wrote a short essay, "The_West_Wing as a Pedagogical Tool". She_concluded,_"While the series' purpose is for-profit_entertainment,_The_West Wing presents great pedagogical_potential." The West Wing, in her_opinion, gave greater depth to the political process usually_espoused only in_stilted talking points on shows_like_Face_the Nation and Meet the Press. However, she noted that_the merits_of a particular_argument may be obscured by the viewer's opinion of the_character. Beavers also noted that characters with