Untethered Dog

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)