The images of Air Force One seen as the staff climbed onboard in the opening sequence were computer generated. A sly reference to this was made in the next scene where C.J. says she "cannot computer generate images of the first lady"
When Leo receives a note in his office while talking with Joey Lucas, he reads it and says "Holy hell." The sign that Joey's interpreter Kenny uses in the translation is a little bit different - he gives the ASL sign for "s**t."
The historic town of Middleburg, Virginia stands in for Manchester in Part 1 and Part 2.
The third season received 21 Emmy Award nominations for the 54th Primetime Emmy Awards, the most-nominated season, winning a total of 4 awards. The series won its third consecutive award for Outstanding Drama Series and Allison Janney also won her third consecutive award, this time in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. John Spencer and Stockard Channing each won for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, respectively, after being nominated twice before. The season received several acting nominations, which included Martin Sheen for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series; Dulé Hill, Richard Schiff, and Bradley Whitford for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; Janel Moloney and Mary-Louise Parker for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series; Mark Harmon, Tim Matheson, and Ron Silver for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Paris Barclay (for "The Indians in the Lobby") and Alex Graves (for "Posse Comitatus") were each nominated for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series, and Aaron Sorkin was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (for "Posse Comitatus"). Also Thomas Del Ruth won an award from the American Society of Cinematographers for the episode "Bartlet for America".
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not an "independent agency," as is stated by CJ (Allison Janney) at the beginning of the episode. Rather, it is an executive agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, itself a cabinet-level agency. Josh (Bradley Whitford) clarifies this in Part II of the episode.