very liberal views and is animated and theatrical. Oliver Babish (Oliver Platt): The fifth and final White House Counsel of the Bartlet administration, but the second of the two characters to be shown in that position during the series. Diligent and zealous, he first appears advising President Bartlet when the President is considering revealing his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis to the public. He appears connected to this plotline into season three, then returns to the series in season seven to participate in the White House's internal investigation into the military shuttle leak. He later decamps to a law firm in the wake of the outgoing Bartlet Administration and later mentioned by Santos as a potential choice for Attorney General. Described by Josh Lyman as "smart and tough". Ainsley Hayes (Emily Procter): Associate (and proposed Deputy) White House Counsel (Seasons 2–3). Conservative Republican from North Carolina. Graduate of Harvard Law School. After she soundly defeats and embarrasses Sam during a debate on the political talk show Capital Beat, President Bartlet tells Leo McGarry to offer her a job, which she initially thinks is either a joke or a terrible idea, but seeing the staff in action leads her to accept the Associate White House Counsel's post. Briefly reappears in Season 7, wanting to become White House Counsel for the Santos Administration with Josh planning on getting her a meeting with Santos. Joe Quincy (Matthew Perry): Associate White House Counsel (Seasons 4–5). Republican. Uncovers Vice President Hoynes's leaking of information during an affair with local socialite Helen Baldwin, ultimately leading to Hoynes' resignation. Mike Wayne (Benjamin Brown): Associate White House Counsel (Season 4–7). Deals with Toby after he admits to being the source of the military space shuttle leak. Richard Squire (Michael Kostroff): Associate White House Counsel (Season 6). Graduate of Yale Law School and a Rhodes Scholar. Situation Room Admiral Percy "Fitz" Fitzwallace (John Amos): Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Seasons 1–5). Fitzwallace is a career surface warfare officer. He is killed by terrorists while on a diplomatic mission following his retirement. General Nicholas Alexander (Terry O'Quinn): an ex-Green Beret. He succeeds Admiral Fitzwallace as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Seasons 5–6). Dr. Nancy McNally (Anna Deavere Smith): National Security Advisor. It is suggested that she becomes U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (Seasons 2–7). Lieutenant Commander Jack Reese (Christian Slater): Aide to National Security Advisor Nancy