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The West Wing was originally intended as a temporary office structure, built on the site of the extensive greenhouses and stables. Congress approved over half a million dollars for the renovation.
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However, when Theodore Roosevelt became president, he found that the existing offices in the mansion were insufficient to accommodate his family of six children as well as his staff.Ī year later, in 1902, First Lady Edith Roosevelt hired McKim, Mead & White to separate the living quarters from the offices, to enlarge and modernize the public rooms, to re-do the landscaping, and to redecorate the interior. Note the Oval Office and the solar panels on the roof of the Cabinet Room.īefore the construction of the West Wing, presidential staff worked on the western end of the second floor of what is now the Executive Residence. His character does, however, return for the final season of The West Wing to rejoin his friends in the new Santos administration, creating a nice bookend for the character and providing further evidence that, despite his departure, Lowe still loved the show.West Wing from above. Sam's campaign reduces Lowe's role in the fourth season and paves the way for his disappearance from the main series. Robe Lowe's departure was written into the fourth season of The West Wing when Sam decided to run for Congress in a special election to replace the Democratic candidate who had won Sam's home district posthumously. Regardless of any animosity over his salary, it seems that Lowe had truly bonded with the other actors and that he was genuinely missed. According to Sheen, his costars were heartbroken over the loss. In a statement about his decision to leave, he describes feeling lucky to depart the show in the same manner in which he arrived: "grateful for it, happy to have been on it and proud of it." His castmates were similarly sad to see him go. Related: Doctor Who: Why Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston Left the Seriesĭespite these behind-the-scenes conflicts, Lowe expressed nothing but love for The West Wing. Losing the limelight to other characters may also have contributed to Lowe's decision to leave the show altogether. While Sam had started out as the lead character - with much of the series' premiere focused on his exploits - other characters had grown in popularity, eventually eclipsing Sam. While sources say that The West Wing executives would have considered raising Lowe's salary if he had been willing to wait a year, this slight likely contributed to Lowe's decision to leave.Īnother reason for Lowe's departure was his character's diminished role in the series. Martin Sheen, who portrayed President Bartlet, had negotiated a raise that nearly quadrupled his salary, while the rest of the actors that played senior staff members had more than doubled their initial salaries. While Lowe was originally paid more than many other members of the cast, he was not granted a raise when many others were.
THE WEST WING SERIES
Lowe's departure from the series was bolstered by a number of behind-the-scenes reasons, most notably money. Related: Doctor Who: How TWO Companions Leave the Thirteenth Doctor Initially intended to be the main protagonist of the entire series, Sam was a principled speechwriter whose rigid morality and belief in the best of people sometimes got him into trouble.
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Rob Lowe played Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn, a standout character of the first 4 seasons. Despite his charm and charisma, Sam was written out of the show in the fourth season as a result of disagreements over pay and the diminishing size of his role on the show. Part of the show's charm and success is due to the beloved character of Sam Seaborn, played by beloved actor Rob Lowe. The West Wing completed its 7-season run in 2006, but its legacy of political drama walk-and-talks endures.