Bob Russell (The West Wing)

Bob Russell
The West Wing character
Gary Cole as Bob Russell
First appearance	"Jefferson Lives"
Last appearance	"Requiem"
Created by	Carol Flint and Debora Cahn
Portrayed by	Gary Cole
Information
Occupation	U.S. Representative from Colorado 1995-2003, Vice President of the United States 2003-2007, Democratic Presidential Candidate, 2006
Title	Vice President of the United States of America
Spouse(s)	Mrs. Russell (wife)
Relatives	Todd (nephew), Robert Russell (father)

Robert "Bob" Russell is a fictional character played by Gary Cole on the television serial drama The West Wing. He is introduced as a member of Congress from Colorado, and succeeds to the vice presidency after President Bartlet nominates him following the resignation of incumbent John Hoynes.

A Democratic Representative from Colorado at the time of his appointment, Russell was initially derided by some of the senior West Wing staff as mediocre, shallow, and a tool of Colorado mining interests. Russell's dismissive nickname around Washington was "Bingo Bob", and he was often referred to as "the Congressman from the Western Colorado Mining Company". Russell served on the House Energy Committee with future Speaker Jeff Haffley.

Russell claims that he wears cowboy boots because of flat feet but Josh Lyman suggests that it's a transparent attempt to appear "folksy".

Once confirmed as Vice President, Russell soon established himself as an ambitious and shrewd politician with a wry awareness of his own shortcomings. Russell often used self-deprecating humor to try to get past his dullness, such as stating, "Bob Russell is so dull his Secret Service codename is Bob Russell." (A nod to real life Vice President Al Gore; for years he used the line "Al Gore is so boring his Secret Service codename is 'Al Gore.'")

After the resignation of Vice President John Hoynes due to a sex scandal in May 2003, the Bartlet Administration was required to nominate a replacement, in accordance with the provisions of the 25th Amendment. President Jed Bartlet's first choice was Lewis Berryhill, his Secretary of State, played by William Devane. However, Berryhill's nomination was opposed by House and Senate Republicans, along with more than a few Democrats, most notably the Senate Minority Leader.