Despite the Christmas season, the Presidential investigation grinds on as the President's fateful decision is recalled.  While the White House is festooned with Christmas finery, Leo fears the worst when he testifies in the Congressional investigation into the
President's possible lack of public disclosure about his illness while flashbacks reveal the background leading to Bartlet's decision as g overnor to not come forward with the damaging information. In addition, the President personally investigates a series of church firebombings in the South after a two-year probe  proves fruitless and threatens using troops to protect parishioners the next day on Christmas Eve.