Lewis Berryhill served as the United States Secretary of State during the Bartlet administration. Josh Lyman considered him the most popular Secretary of State since William H. Seward. In 1999, after the death of 60 Air Force personnel, President Bartlet would strongly send orders to Secretary Berryhill, something that alarmed White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry. During the crisis, Bartlet became increasingly concerned that Berryhill was intentionally delaying his orders. It was later stated that Berryhill was unsure of the chain of command following the attempt.