Aboard Air Force One, a tipsy Toby sings a few lines from the song "Suicide Is Painless", from the theme song from M*A*S*H (1972), only heard in the original film.
The language from former Pres. Lassiter's letter that Jed Bartlet reads at the end is actually based on the narration from the very end of Episode 11 of Jacob Bronowski's 13-part series, "The Ascent of Man." The episode, entitled "Knowledge or Certainty?" deals with what Bronowski saw as the danger of certainty, which he ascribed to those like the leaders of Nazi Germany who followed an ideology, and knowledge, such as that sought by scientists, whom he contended act out of uncertainty and are willing to test their beliefs through experimentation in the real world.
Bronowski spoke his closing remarks at the edge of a pond near the Auschwitz crematoria, and remarked that the ashes of four million people, including many members of his family, had been flushed into the pond. His exact words, which he spoke as he walked into the pond, (altered slightly for the Lassiter letter), were, "I owe it as a human being to the many members of my family who died here, to stand here as a survivor and a witness. We have to cure ourselves of the itch for absolute knowledge and power. We have to close the distance between the push-button order and the human act. We have to touch people."
Bronowski spoke his closing remarks at the edge of a pond near the Auschwitz crematoria, and remarked that the ashes of four million people, including many members of his family, had been flushed into the pond. His exact words, which he spoke as he walked into the pond, (altered slightly for the Lassiter letter), were, "I owe it as a human being to the many members of my family who died here, to stand here as a survivor and a witness. We have to cure ourselves of the itch for absolute knowledge and power. We have to close the distance between the push-button order and the human act. We have to touch people."
Josh's mediation over a Confederate artifact mirrors a real life dispute between Minnesota and Virginia. During the Battle of Gettysburg, the 1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment captured the battle flag of the 28th Virginia infantry, despite having suffered over 80% casualties the day before. The flag was brought back to Minnesota, and while Virginia has requested, demanded, and threatened legal action to have the flag returned, Minnesota has refused, keeping the flag as a testament to the bravery of their Union soldiers.
This is one of the few episodes of the series that does not feature a "Previously on The West Wing" montage before the teaser.
When Leo says that President Lassiter's funeral will be held at his Presidential Library, Josh says "The one with the fake oval (office)?" In reality, it's not uncommon for a Presidential Library to have an Oval Office replica decorated in the time of that President.