25 Mind-Blowing Facts About The West Wing

20. If John Spencer, Who Played Leo, Had Survived Then Matt Santos Would Have Lost The Presidential Election

West Wing Bartlet Chief Of Staff

Originally, moderate and maverick Republican Senator Arnold Vinick was supposed to win the Presidential Election in series seven of the West Wing - and it was only after the actor who played Leo McGarry died that creators changed their mind.

John Spencer, who played White House Chief of Staff Leo, died during the filming of the final series - in which Democratic Congressman Matt Santos chooses him to be running mate during the election.

Following Spencer's death, writer Lawrence O'Donnell admitted that the ending was changed to allow the Democrats to win because it was felt that viewers would be too saddened by Santos losing both his running mate and the election.

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Contributor

NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.