Bald and bearded, Toby Ziegler, President Bartlet's Communications Director, is the perfect example of professionalism. This beloved West Wing character is hard working and dedicated to his profession and to the president. Only later in the series does it come as a surprise that he is the cause of a leak of information.
Still, actor Richard Schiff pulls off the character as an old hand at acting and viewers come to respect him and find solace in the stability and sense he brings to the show. Here are 10 things you might not know about the character of Toby Ziegler.
Not All Work, No Play
It's hard to imagine Toby Ziegler having a life outside of the White House. He is dedicated to his profession and often appears to be solely focussed on work - an 'all work, no play' kind of a guy. However, he does have a life outside of work and he is actually a big fan of American baseball, and having grown up in New York City, is a fan of the New York Yankees. In the series, he once said he had watched 441 games in the Yankee Stadium.
A Love For Correctness
Toby likes things done his way, on time and without fuss. For this reason he has developed certain habits. One example, is the way he throws a rubber ball at the glass separating Sam Seaborn's office from his, when he wants to get Sam's attention and mobilise him to come to his office quickly.
This kind of behavior is illustrative of a man who accepts no nonsense and values efficiency and professionalism in others, striving to embody these qualities himself.
A Man Of The Books
Toby appears to have the world at his feet - a good job, a good name and a place in the President of the US's inner circle. Still, his success hasn't just fallen into his lap.
He has worked hard for it. He studied at the City University of New York, and while his undergraduate major is not mentioned in the series, through the narrative it is suggested that he is a hard working character. He also has a law degree among his postgraduate degrees. This is possibly why he has a leaning towards ethical conduct and actions which abide by the law.
An Actor In A Million
The character of Toby, or Tobias Zachary Ziegler, is played by talented Richard Schiff. He was cast by series creator Aaron Sorkin after auditioning and contending against many other actors. One of the reasons Richard was chosen for the role is his ability to step into the shoes of his characters. For Toby, he created a full backstory for the character, making him a widower who refused to take off his wedding ring. Richard said he decided this as it would explain Toby's 'sadness' and his singular devotion to public work..
Second Choice
It is only later in the series that Toby discovers he wasn't first in line for the job as Communications Director for President Josiah Bartlet's White House istration. Still, he does a sterling job at communicating the istration's messages with all applicable parties. He is also the president's speech writer, and is a dedicated policy advisor. Watching the series, it is hard to believe there was ever a first choice for the prestigious position. It seems like the job was made for Toby.
A Chequered Past
While Toby is a pillar of strength to many, behind his stalwart strength is a deep sadness, coming from a past which has not always been easy. In the series, it is revealed his father was a member of Murder, Inc. This was a Jewish mafia-type organisation. His father's hip with the group landed in him being put in prison and resulted in complications between Toby and his dad. Also, his brother committed suicide after learning he had terminal cancer.
Not Afraid To Confront
Toby is a strong character who many times confronts the President and his team when he feels they are showing cowardice or failing to operate in moral, ethical ways. Perhaps this relates to his earlier days as a student, when he studied law as one of his subjects. He definitely likes things done the right way and isn’t afraid to speak up. The only time he shrinks back in fear is when he decides not to stand against Mrs. Landingham, whom he doesn’t want to offend.
He Likes To Put Things Right
While Toby does mess up, as when he was responsible for an infringement against the presidency, he has it in his heart to put things right. This is not only demonstrated in his constant insistence others stick to strict moral and ethical guidelines, but also in later episodes in which the show's narrative suggests Toby and the President have been reconciled after his fall-out with the Bartlet. A 'flash forward' into the future, in the narrative, shows Toby as a professor at Columbia University during the dedication of the Barlet Presidential Library. It would seem his relationship with the President and his colleagues is restored in the end.
He Has Weaknesses
Toby seems a pillar of strength in the White House, in all aspects. He is a leaning post for President Bartlet, and a police advisor, and his performance in his job as Communications Director appears seamless. However, he does have weaknesses and one of his biggest slip-ups happens when he confesses to leaking information to the New York Times, of all places! Classified information about a space shuttle for military purposes is leaked to the newspaper and on investigation, it is discovered that Toby is the source of this leak.
A Lover Of Language
It seems the title of Communications Director is perfect for Toby, who shows on more than one occasion he is an expert at words. This is demonstrated by his leaning towards correctness and his ability to hold his own in an argument, even against President Bartlet! He also loves grammatical correctness, and in one instance even believes he has found a grammatical error in the US Constitution!