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This is Fresh Air. I'm David Bienkule.

NBC's The West Wing premiered 25 years ago, the same year that HBO premiered the Sopranos.

That year marked the beginning of a shift in power and quality from

broadcast to cable TV and the West Wing was one of the last shows from broadcast

television to win the Emmy for Best Drama Series.

The show, which was unveiled near the end of the presidency of Bill Clinton, was a behind

the scenes look at a fictional White House.

Aaron Sorkin, a young playwright who had written the stage and movie versions of a few good men, created the show.

The stars of the West Wing included Martin Sheen as President Bartlett, John Spencer as the President of the West Wing, included Martin Sheen as President Bartlett, John Spencer as the President's

Chief of Staff, and Allison Janney as his Press Secretary.

At the actual White House recently, First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the cast and creators of

the West Wing, saluting them for doing a show about politics and the White House that was

smart, funny, and above all, hopeful.

Anytime we begin to slip into cynicism or apathy,

we just have to remember Jed Bartlett's White House, a place where there are big blocks of

cheese and everyone belongs, where you do good. That's the story the West Wing showed the nation.

Today we'll dip into our Fresh Air Archives and hear from both John Spencer and Allison Janie.

But we'll begin with an interview with Aaron Sorkin.

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