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?
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.
No, they were friends.
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.
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.