MBTI Type: ESFJ

Bartlet is an active “do-gooder” president, who is forever trying to force people into an emotional consensus, whether that’s through his aggressive tactics as relates to governmental policy (such as equal rights for all) or forcing CJ to take back the fact that she hates the favored local football team and making her sing their anthem in front of the press in a “rousing” display of team spirit. He is a fountain of knowledge of detailed trivia on everything from obscure literary references to what kind of knife is the best one to use to cut the Thanksgiving turkey. Much to the annoyance of his staff, he will keep them overtime to discuss some random, obscure point of interest relating to his enormous knowledge of, well, everything. Latin. Cooking. Ancient Greek myths. Whatever. They are going to sit there and listen to him ramble on about it, marveling at the small things most of them could care less about. Barlet has great pride in his family history and even passes on a knife that belonged to Paul Revere to Charlie, as a way to show his appreciation for his talents. When his daughter doesn’t understand why she cannot go out without a bodyguard, Bartlet patiently explains to her that if anything ever happened to her, if she ever got kidnapped, he would be forced to do anything to get her back – things that as a president, he should never do. He has a whimsical sense of humor and is open to alternate ideas, but is not good at big picture thinking most of the time and leaves the creativity to Josh and Sam. He will push people to get in the right frame of mind (agree with him and the consensus), and can often react on an emotional level. He doesn’t like to be told what to do, forced to change his mind, or have to compromise on issues he holds dear, but fails to realize he often asks his team to do those very things in order to be in agreement with him. Bartlet voices whatever he is feeling in the moment, from his good-natured complaining about the music he has to sit through to his annoyance at having to wake up early. He is far more illogical than Leo, who has a more pragmatic view of reality and can explain to him exactly why doing “this” is a bad idea. Bartlet doesn’t question his own actions much, but will listen to the advice of those more logical than himself and often accept it.

Enneagram: 3w2 so/sp

Bartlet is ambitious, determined to succeed, and yet another workaholic in the White House. He is often still in the office after midnight and expects his staff to do the same (though he rarely asks it of them; it’s implied). Though able to be charming in most situations, easily make people like him, and get the press on board with his ideas, Barlet can also be stubborn, arrogant, and demanding. He often assumes he is right, but is not too proud to listen to Leo. He has a great desire to do good on a big level, through a position of power (rather than directly getting involved, he intends to change policies). Bartlet is annoyed to get sick and/or shot, since it means less time in the office, and pushes his wife to give him a clean bill of health so he can go back to work.