The West Wing

Our closing ad of the 2024 Election

Every campaign needs a closing argument. This is ours.

This one was personal for me and among the finest my team has ever produced.

I could write a hundred thousand words (and sometimes, I feel as if I have) about why Kamala Harris is the better candidate for the nation and the world, but in the campaign’s closing moments, the story played out on screen will better reach the world.

It hits hard, and while I wrote it, I polished and crafted every word until it was worthy of the cast reading it and the person for whom it is intended.

Here’s the script:

THE WEST WING

You know, the White House—is more than just a building. 

It's more than 18 acres of land in Washington, D.C.

It's more than columns and corridors, more than history etched into stone, and the portraits of those who came before.

It's an idea. It's a symbol. It's a sacred trust.

It's the place where Americans look for leadership when the night is at its darkest and when the dawn breaks brightest. 

Earning the right to serve here isn't just about politics; it's about a bond of honor between the American people and their President.

It's a commitment to the Republic and to our sacred Constitution.

It's a promise—a promise to temper strength with compassion, to uphold not only the law but the ideals that give it life.

It's the understanding that every decision made within these walls reverberates across the nation, impacting millions of lives.

The right kind of President reminds us that honor and dignity aren't relics of the past but the foundation of our future.

They know that while their time here is fleeting, their service can build a stronger America for generations to come.

The woman who will soon sit behind this desk will be the first in many ways.

She will lead America to a new era, proud era…a future we will build as one nation.

A time of opportunity and prosperity for every American, every family.

Her name is Kamala Harris, and she will be our next President.


The words may be mine, but the fantastic cast of The West Wing provided the voices that brought it to passionate life. Martin Sheen, Bradley Whitford, Allison Janney, Dule Hill, Josh Malina, Nelly Moloney, Richard Schiff, and the woman who brought them together, Mary McCormack, were amazingly gracious with their time and talents.

The origin story of this ad is my brilliant producer Joey Wartnerchaney’s insistence that we could make something that spoke to the country and the culture and that The West Wing was a television and cultural icon that reminded America of what service and dedication to the country looked and felt like. It was about dignity, honor, strength, and wisdom—tough decisions made by people who put the country first.

This one was in the oven for a long time, but it was worth the wait.

The Lincoln Project creative team is just that: a team. Joey and Ben Howe jointly edited this labor of love. Whitney Hayes, the brilliant, ferocious Valkyrie who is my deputy, kept it all on the right axis and managed more moving parts than I can relate. Stuart Stevens helped merge all the contacts and connections into this moment.

From the composition, editing, sound design, and music, I am so proud of what this team has made as our final act of this election. Anyone can buy editing software — and far too many people do and think they’re political ad-makers — but the folks by my side make it art.

I hope you’ll share it with your friends and family on social media.

Go vote. Let’s get this done.

I’m so grateful to you all,

Rick