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Leo Thomas McGarry, White House Chief of Staff to Democratic President Josiah Bartlet, is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing.
Leo originally suggested that Bartlet run for president. As President Bartlet's top advisor, Leo has an office adjacent to the Oval Office and sits in with the President in the Situation Room. Leo is very involved in the formation of policy and the day-to-day operations of the White House and its staff. Leo is a former United States Secretary of Labor, an Air Force veteran in the Vietnam War, and is also a recovering alcoholic and valium addict. His problems with alcohol, as well as his workaholic attitude towards his job as Chief of Staff, led to his divorce from wife Jenny.
In season six McGarry had a heart attack outside Camp David, leading to his replacement by C.J. Cregg, White House Press Secretary. He later returned to work after Bartlet's last State of the Union Address in an advisory role.
Leo and Jenny have a daughter, Mallory, who is a recurring character and was a potential love interest for Sam Seaborn. They spent most of their time arguing; Mallory usually picks the fights just to have Sam argue with her. Since Sam left the White House, Mallory has been largely absent from the show as well.
It should be noted that Leo's approximately seven year tenure as Chief of Staff would be rather extraordinary in our world (though that may change since the current real-life White House has announced that first-term chief of staff Card is staying on during this now second-term administration). The average tenure since 1945 has been approximately two years - however this may not be true in the West Wing universe. Leo would also be considered historically a very powerful Chief of Staff, but it remains to be seen how C.J. Cregg will define the position.
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