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Samuel Norman Seaborn is an American political strategist and advisor who was the deputy White House Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning from 2007 to 2015 under President Matthew Santos. He was previously the deputy White House Communications Director in the administration of President Josiah Bartlet from 1999 to 2002. He was also the Democratic nominee for California's 47th House district election in 2003, losing to Republican incumbent Chuck Webb.

Seaborn was born in Laguna Beach, Orange County, California in 1966. He attended Princeton University, and graduated from Duke Law School, in 1991 where he was an editor of the Duke Law Review. He also worked at the law firm of Dewey Ballantine in New York City before joining Gage Whitney Pace, the second biggest law firm in New York City. Sam worked there for seven years before leaving to become a speech writer for Josiah Bartlet during Bartlet's campaign for the presidency in 1998. He also worked in Democratic politics as a congressional aide, DCCC staffer and on a New York State Assembly campaign.

After Bartlet won the presidency, Seaborn became the Deputy White House Communications Director.

In early 2003, Seaborn announced a run for Congress in California's 47th Congressional district in a special election held after deceased Democratic candidate Horton Wilde defeated Republican incumbent Chuck Webb. Despite recieving President Bartlet's endorsement in the race, Seaborn lost the race to Congressman Webb.

Return to the White House

Although Sam is mentioned occasionally following his departure — most notably calling Josh to tell him to "roll with the punches" after the latter unwittingly caused the defection of a Democratic Senator. He is not seen in the series until the last episodes of the seventh and final season, following the election of Congressman Matt Santos as President.

In a development reminiscent of his recruitment of Sam into Josiah Bartlet's campaign for the presidency eight years earlier, Josh Lyman (now Chief of Staff-designate in the incoming Santos Administration) flies to Los Angeles on a same day round trip to offer Sam the post of Deputy White House Chief of Staff. Although initially hesitant because he is again engaged, Sam ultimately agrees as he later sees that Santos is part of a bright future for the country. Sam accepts on the condition that Josh take a vacation after witnessing the toll of post-election stress, insisting that Josh will need to be at his best when helping govern the country.

Sam's final appearance of the series comes in the final episode, meeting with new President Matt Santos and Josh Lyman in the Oval Office.

See also

• The West Wing
• List of characters on The West Wing
• List of The West Wing episodes

References

• The West Wing characters
• Fictional political consultants
• Fictional American lawyers
• Fictional characters from Orange County, California
• Fictional Democrats (United States)
• Television characters introduced in 1999