Love
by Tom Swift
Charlie Young: “Okay, Mr. President. I say this with all possible respect, but each of these knives cuts, you know, meat. Why is it important?”
President Josiah Bartlet: “‘Cause it is something we pass on. It’s something with a history, so we can say, ‘My father gave this to me, and his father gave it to him, and now I’m giving it to you.'”
Charlie: “Well, OK, sir. But if that’s true then why don’t you already have one?”
President Bartlet: “I do have one.”
Charlie: “Why do you need a new one?”
President Bartlet: “I’m giving mine away.”
Charlie: “To who?”
President Bartlet: “Whom.”
Charlie: “To whom?”
President Bartlet: “Funny you should ask.”
[President Bartlet reaches into his desk and takes out a case]
President Bartlet: “Charlie, my father gave this to me, and his father gave it to him, and now I’m giving it to you.”
[President Bartlet Hands Charlie the box]
President Bartlet: “Take a look.”
[Charlie opens the box]
President Bartlet: “The fully tapered bolster allows for sharpening the entire edge of the blade.”
Charlie Young: “It says ‘PR’ I thought I knew them all but I don’t recognize the manufacturer.”
President Bartlet: “This was made for my family by a Boston silversmith named Paul Revere. I’m proud of you, Charlie.”
Charlie: [overwhelmed] “Thank you, sir.”
–The West Wing, Season 2, “Sibboleth” (2000)