(S07E20) Hmmm...you would think they would leave a title like "The Last Hurrah" for the last episode of the series (it's not, the title of that episode is "Tomorrow"), but it fit this one. This was a very solid episode. I usually don't like the episodes that are almost all Vinick and new administration-oriented, but this one was great. Alan Alda is a flawless actor, and it's terrific to see what Vinick is going through now that he's lost. And another nice touch? Using the older characters of Amy and Ron to sort of bridge the old cast and the new cast.

While Santos is busy as hell (he and the new First Lady have to decide what school their kids should go to, Houston or D.C.), Vinick finds himself with nothing to do.

It was also a really nice touch to leave Josh and Donna out of this episode. If they were in this episode, just one week after Josh goes bonkers and Sam tells him to go on a vacation with Donna, it would have been too soon. Leaving them out of this episode makes it feel real, and gives the plot some breathing room. Smart move.

What should Vinick do? Go on the boards of corporations? Join a law firm? Lecture at colleges? Actually, he's bored as hell and is thinking about running for Prez again in four years. His staff just looks at each other at this notion, thinking he's too old. But Santos calls. He wants to meet with Vinick about something.

C.J. shows the new First Lady around the White House (the Bartlets are in Brussels), and she's completely overwhelmed by the staff and all of the decisions she has to make.

Vinick waits in a room for Santos (nice work here by Alda - you can see the sadness on his face). Santos is running late and calls Vinick to reschedule. Vinick leaves the White House and goes to a Starbucks, where no one knows who he is, he just wants a large drink not a "Venti," and the guy behind the counter calls him "Ernie."

Mrs. Santos finds herself in the Oval Office to meet with the designer. The designer tells her that they don't have much money to redecorate. Only around $200,000. Mrs. Santos is stunned. The designer suggest a fundraising campaign to raise a couple of million "to do it right."

Santos and Vinick finally meet. Santos wants his input on how to select a VP. Santos is offering to put Vinick on the short list for VP. Vinick asks about his tax plan. Vinick thinks that Santos is doing it just to leak it to the press that he's so bipartisan, and then he's just going to announce Baker for VP (note: not sure here, but is that was Santos really was doing, and Vinick guessed it?). Vinick figures out that Santos and Bartlet were in cahoots over the foreign policy mix up in last week's episode.

Santos knows that Vinick is smart and honorable and has a great track record. He asks him to be Secretary of State. Santos staff is worried he's going to leak the info, while Vinick tells his staff he turned down the job. The staff tells Vinick they don't think he'd win in four years, because of his age. Vinick is worried about Santos' second choice for Secretary of State (Reynolds). His staff wants him to take the job.

Meanwhile, the Santos' visit a public D.C. school and like it.

Vinick comes to the White House again. Barry Goodwin secretly tells him to turn it down. Vinick says that Sec of State is way too important a position to use as a political tool. Santos says he agrees. He really does want Vinick for the job. Sincerely wants him for the job. Vinick tells him he's not going to help him get Baker voted in as VP or go to fundraisers for the Democratic party. Vinick says it's a crazy idea. He doesn't see how it's going to work. Santos shows him the daily briefing on China and Kazakhstan. Vinick tells him exactly what to do with the situation. With the Russians and the Chinese. The two stand and talk in depth about the situation.

Next week: Toby returns!