Factual error: In the first shot after the recap, the overlay text reads "United States Capitol/Sunday/Inauguration Day". During this episode and the one that follows there is an inauguration day celebration and President Bartlet makes his inauguration speech. Historically, however, when inauguration day falls on a Sunday the celebrations and speeches are scheduled for the next day, a Monday. The president is still sworn in on inauguration day (March 4th until 1933, January 20th after that), but all other activities are moved back one day. The inauguration date has only fallen on a Sunday 6 times since 1798, and only twice since the current inauguration date was set, so it is understandable that this arcane but important bit of scheduling tradition was missed by the show's researchers. (00:00:45)
Factual error: In this episode, it is Inauguration Day in January. In the previous episode, when CJ is visiting her father in Dayton, Ohio, it is February, according to CJ (when she complains that it will be too cold to go fishing with her father).
Factual error: The "NY" tail markings on the fighter jet denote an F-16 model based in Syracuse, NY. Yet the plane is an F-15, of which Syracuse has had none. (00:13:05)
Factual error: Will Bailey (son of the Supreme Commander, NATO Allied Forces, Europe, and an Air Force officer himself) states the fighter jet alongside Air Force One is an "F-16 Falcon", but it is actually an F-15 Eagle. (00:13:05)
Factual error: The fighter jet alongside Air Force One has "NY" tail markings which designate it's with the 174th fighter wing, with a home base of Syracuse, New York. Surely, in this emergency over Washington, DC, jets from a more local base (like the 113th's F-16s at Andrews AFB) would have been dispatched to aid the President's plane. (00:13:05)
Factual error: At the end of the episode, the pilot says their runway has been changed to "runway 39." Runway headings are multiples of 10° from 01 up to 36. There cannot be a "runway 39."
7A WF 83429 - S5-E1
Factual error: In the television clip introducing the bombing in Turkey, the footage almost certainly comes from a Palestinian terror attack in the vicinity of Tel Aviv, Israel. Clearly visible in the frame is a Magen David Adom (Israeli Red Cross) ambulance marked with the Hebrew word "Dan" - a term for the area around Tel Aviv. The vast majority of raging fires that MDA ambulances responded to around Tel Aviv were the result of suicide bombings.
Factual error: Near the end of episode 1 in series 6, General Alexander is briefing Leo, and the screen shows the Alpha strike headed east toward Syria from the USS Lincoln, which is depicted as being in the Mediterranean. In episode 2, he briefs the press, telling them that the strike was launched from the Lincoln in the Gulf.
Factual error: When Will comes to Leo's office at the scheduled time of 6PM, the sun is shining brightly through Leo's window. Since this is the day after the State of The Union address which is mid-January, it would already be dark in DC.
Factual error: At the end of the episode, a chamber music ensemble plays at the White House. One of the close-up shots is of the oboist as well as the sheet of music on her stand. The music on the stand is not the same piece as that being played, and it's not even an oboe part, but rather a piano score of some solo instrument piece, as can be told by each system having three staves, two of which are bracketed together. (00:39:20)
Factual error: Early in the episode, when Abby complains about who in their right mind would schedule outdoor inaugurations in January, Jed retorts by listing Jefferson, Adams, and Franklin, but inaugurations were in March until 1936 - not a mistake President Bartlet would make.
Factual error: When the president signs Toby's Presidential Pardon you can see his name listed as "Toby." However such a document would refer to someone by their full, legal name. In this case the document should say "Tobias" not Toby, which, although commonly used throughout the series, is still only a nickname.
Factual error: In the show's final scene Ronna comes into the oval office to remind President Santos that it's nearly 6 PM and he needs to get ready for the various inaugural balls. The Oval Office is filled with sunshine, however in Washington D.C. in January the sun would have set nearly an hour before and it would be dark outside.
Answer: It's in reference to the many televangelists and revival ministers usually associated with the right-wing that have been convicted of tax fraud (Jim Bakker and Tamy Faye being a more famous set). Occasionally, the more unscrupulous ministers have bilked millions from believers all in the name of God.
Nikki