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Because of the inner logic of the show, The West Wing had to simultaneously reference historical presidents while creating a 'new canon' for the previous few presidents before Bartlett AND have elections take place in the wrong years in order to line up with when they premiered the series

which means that at some point in The West Wing Universe, Congress ratified a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT that would change when elections happened while also not having a reason to do so SO MONUMENTAL that it would radically alter the trajectory of the nation

There was no constitutional amendment - elections have been held regularly every four years since the constitutional convention in 1789, following ratification in 1790 and Washington’s unanimous selection in 1791 No I am not going to tell you how the rest of American history worked

Look after Lincoln is assassinated in 1867 almost everything is the same anyway, except for that part where FDR is elected earlier in the Great Depression - the first of five elections he wins

all this is doing is lowering my willpower, I am talking with Do as we speak

I am building out an entire revised historical canon now, truly the best use of my time