"There are very few personal treasures that you put in your knapsack to carry with you for the rest of your life and he's one of those."

-- Richard Schiff, December 16, 2005

"Through good times and bad, acting has been my escape, my joy, my nourishment. The drug for me, even better than alcohol, was acting."

-- John Spencer, 2000

This guy's walking down a street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep, he can't get out. A doctor passes by, and the guy shouts up "Hey you, can you help me out?" The doctor writes him a prescription, throws it down the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up "Father, I'm down in this hole, can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey Joe, it's me, can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down here!" And the friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before, and I know the way out."

--John Spencer as Leo McGarry, Noel, The West Wing

"I've always been a political junkie, fascinated by politics and the working machine. My favorite shows are the pundits. Ultimately -- it's true of any research you do -- bottom line, you've got to play the scene. You research for five months and then you're in there with those words playing the scene. That's basically what I did. I think Leo is the chief of staff that John Spencer would be if he were a chief of staff."

-- John Spencer

For the laughs, the tears, the times you took our breath away

For the lyrical cadence in your voice and that infectious smile

For your openness, your gentleness, your brilliance and humility

Thank you, John.