Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character of the NBC political drama series The West Wing,[1] portrayed by American actor John Spencer.

[2] In crafting the character of Leo McGarry, series creator Aaron Sorkin said he envisioned John Spencer in the part but did not think he would be available.

[3] Although Spencer had recently decided he did not want to act in another TV drama series because of the long hours, he was so impressed by the pilot script that he took the part.

[7][8] During the first season, his wife of several decades, Jenny, divorces him due to his workaholic nature, prioritizing his job in the White House over his marriage.

McGarry amassed significant wealth during his time in the private sector as a member of the board of directors of a defense contractor, Mueller-Wright Aeronautics, with his friend Ken O'Neill, for ten or twelve years.

Eventually, Governor Bartlet, who was considered to be an insurgent candidate by the media, defeats Senator John Hoynes of Texas for the nomination, and goes on to win the presidency, appointing McGarry as his Chief of Staff.

As Senior Counselor, Leo encourages staffers to present new ideas and resurrect old policy initiatives that have been abandoned out of political necessity, insisting that they could "accomplish more in one day in the White House than in a lifetime" once they leave.

Leo also leads an attempt to open negotiations between the US and Cuba to lift the blockade and reestablish diplomatic relations, an issue which faces significant opposition from Republicans, Democrats, and the intelligence community.

The initiative is eventually endorsed by President Bartlet in a televised address to the nation, vindicating Leo's efforts and allowing him to accomplish what he had failed to do as Labor Secretary at a summit in 1995.

However, he points out to her that Josh's departure has left a significant workload that requires a new Deputy White House Chief of Staff on a permanent basis.

Seeing similarities with Josh, Leo champions lobbyist Cliff Calley to take over strategic planning and legislative affairs.

is at first reluctant to hire the Republican to fill Josh's position, Leo convinces her that Cliff is a good man who once saved him and the Bartlet administration from being humiliated.

This is particularly ironic, because McGarry had earlier insisted that Santos drop out of the race for the sake of party unity to allow a less impressive candidate (Vice President Robert Russell) to take on the nod.

But McGarry allows Santos to make a closing speech that was so impressive that it helped put him over the top and become the party's presidential nominee.

Following a private meeting between McGarry and Bartlet in the Oval Office to discuss troop deployment in Kazakhstan, a scene which exhibits the closeness of their relationship, Josh Lyman asks him: "Everything okay?"

McGarry's death comes ninety minutes before the polls close in California and other Western states, thus giving some voters this information prior to casting their vote.

President Bartlet, President-elect Matt Santos, Josh Lyman, Charlie Young, former DNC head Barry Goodwin, and McGarry's unnamed son-in-law serve as pallbearers.

He considered the world of The West Wing a boys' club at times, and felt McGarry could be harder on C. J. Cregg than he was on the male senior staffers.

[4] Though apart from the opening credits he is not seen again onscreen, after his death McGarry's presence is felt in the series finale when his daughter presents a gift to President Bartlet that she found in his possessions.

"[18][full citation needed] Governor Eric Baker (D-Pennsylvania), played by Ed O'Neill, was written in as Leo's vice presidential replacement, as chosen by President Santos.

[19] Leon Panetta, who served as White House Chief of Staff under Bill Clinton (and later as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and Secretary of Defense under Barack Obama), was impressed by the character, telling actor John Spencer that "Any administration that would have Leo McGarry as a White House Chief of Staff would be very, very fortunate.

[23]Shelby Arnold said that in promoting public understanding, the Leo McGarry portrayal of alcoholism and addiction helped to weigh against some of the stigma caused by the "old Reagan-era" Just Say No campaign.

The Guardian takes a slightly different angle on it:[25] [In season 3, episode 9] Leo is pushed through the wringer ... His alcoholism is explored in excruciating detail, in the present and in flashbacks where he meets Bartlet for the first time.

An episode about a man with an addictive personality unravelling due to the pressures of work, released eight months after Aaron Sorkin was arrested for felony drug possession, this one feels as if it's coming straight from the gut.