This is the first appearance of recurring guest star Joey Lucas, played by Marlee Matlin, as well as her interpreter Kenny Thurman, played by Bill O'Brien.

Martin Sheen was nominated for the 2000 Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in this episode and in "Five Votes Down".

Martin Sheen (President Bartlet) and Karl Malden (Father Cavanaugh) previously appeared together on the TV series The Streets of San Francisco in the episode "Betrayed".

Donna: Did you spend the night here?
Josh: No. Just since a couple of hours ago.
Donna: The party went to morning?
Josh: Yup.
(later)
Donna: Why didn't you go home after the party?
Josh: I couldn't find my keys, or remember where I lived.
Donna: Josh.
Josh: I think there might have been strippers there.
Donna: Oh my God! What happened to your clothes?
Josh: I may have wrinkled my suit.
Donna: Josh!
Josh: Donna. You . . . You really wanna speak very softly.
Donna: How did you get like this?
Josh: People were pouring champagne over each other.
Donna: And then wrestling in dirt?
Josh: I can't remember, but it's certainly not out of the question.
(later)
Donna: Are you going to listen to me from now on?
Josh: I'm not even listening to you now.
Donna: (shouts) I said, are you going to listen --
Josh: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Joey: What the hell are you wearing?
Josh: Me?
Joey: Yes.
Josh: I was . . . I uh . . . I . . . I spilt some things on my clothes. Tell you what, let's . . . let's just take a deep breath for a second while I try and remember, you know, where I am right now.

Joey: I wanna speak to the President!
Josh: Hey, Lunatic Lady! Trust me when I tell you that there's absolutely no way that you're going to see the President!

Bartlet: What happened to the guy who shot your mother?
Charlie: They haven't found him yet sir.
Bartlet: If they did, would you wanna see him executed? Killing a police officer's a capital crime. I figured you must have thought about it.
Charlie: Yes sir.
Bartlet: And?
Charlie: I wouldn't want to see him executed, Mr. President. I'd wanna do it myself.

Josh: You have any idea how dumb I looked in there?
Donna: So Joey Lucas is a woman.
Josh: Yes.
Donna: And she's deaf.
Josh: Yes.

Josh: I can hold my liquor.
Donna: No, you can't.
Josh: I can drink with the best of 'em, Donna.
Donna: You can't drink with any of 'em, Josh.
Josh: I'm a politician, okay? I can drink.
Donna: You have a very sensitive system.
Josh: I wish you'd stop telling people that. It makes me sound like an idiot.

Bartlet: We can not execute some people and not others, depending on the mood of the Oval Office. It's cruel and unusual.
Leo: If that's the only thing stopping you, I'll say for the first time in your presidency, let that be the next guy's problem.