# "The West Wing," 4-16-06 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 17, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951 "2006-04-17T04:35:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951/21 "2006-04-19T13:15:11Z")
[QUOTE=Omniscient] We get to see who [5 of the pallbearers](http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/photo/1.shtml#photo) are, but the sixth guy was never really on-screen. Fans have speculated that it’s probably Leo’s son-in-law who was seen briefly sitting behind Bartlett during the service. The 5th was indeed Barry Goodwin, former DNC Chairman, and long-time friend of Leo. [/QUOTE] Did anyone else think it was a bad idea to have the guy with MS be a real pallbearer? Pres. Bartlett should have been a ceremonial pallbearer, of course, but the real heavy lifting should’ve gone to somebody else, doncha think? ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951/22 "2006-04-19T13:33:45Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Did anyone else think it was a bad idea to have the guy with MS be a real pallbearer? Pres. Bartlett should have been a ceremonial pallbearer, of course, but the real heavy lifting should’ve gone to somebody else, doncha think? [/QUOTE] I know what you mean - in real life it would be something to consider. It was a bit of a shock at first (“The President of the United States is a pall bearer?” - that was my mom’s remark), But there is no plausible way to not have Bartlett be one of Leo’s pallbearers. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951/23 "2006-04-19T13:35:08Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Bartlett should have been a ceremonial pallbearer, of course, but the real heavy lifting should’ve gone to somebody else, doncha think? [/QUOTE] No, they were friends. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951/24 "2006-04-19T18:41:03Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Did anyone else think it was a bad idea to have the guy with MS be a real pallbearer? Pres. Bartlett should have been a ceremonial pallbearer, of course, but the real heavy lifting should’ve gone to somebody else, doncha think? [/QUOTE] If Bartlett happened to have trouble at any point, the other five would have been perfectly capable of holding the casket up on their own. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951/25 "2006-04-19T19:29:16Z")
[QUOTE=iamthewalrus(:3=] If Bartlett happened to have trouble at any point, the other five would have been perfectly capable of holding the casket up on their own. [/QUOTE] Plus, do _you_ want to have to be the guy who tells the leader of the free world that he isn’t worthy to carry the casket for his oldest and dearest friend? Me either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-west-wing-4-16-06/352951.md?page=1)