Allison Janney's Nerves, Martin Sheen's McDonald's Shift, a Clinton Connection and More — Inside “West Wing” Book “What's Next”

'West Wing' actresses Melissa Fitzgerald and Marry McCormack take fans behind the scenes of the beloved political drama

These West Wing actresses are taking fans deep into the political drama series.

Melissa Fitzgerald and Marry McCormack, who portrayed Carol and Kate, respectively, on the 26-time Emmy-winning show, joined forces to write What's Next: A Backstage Pass To The West Wing, Its Cast And Crew, And Its Enduring Legacy Of Service.

Created by Aaron Sorkin, The West Wing premiered almost 25 years ago in September 1999 and remained on the air until 2006 as audiences followed President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his hardworking White House staff.

Throughout the book, Fitzgerald and McCormack tell stories of auditions, the making of the pilot episode, guest stars plus secrets about fan-favorite episodes and pivotal series moments. Despite going off the air almost 20 years ago, the beloved political drama makes a great rewatch — especially during an election cycle.

Some A-list actors were nervous when appearing on the show. One of the former presidents enjoyed the show so much that he took DVD copies of it everywhere he went. Plus, where did that infamous Sorkin walk-and-talk formula come from?

Here are the biggest bombshells from What's Next: A Backstage Pass To The West Wing, Its Cast And Crew, And Its Enduring Legacy Of Service.

Allison Janney Was Nervous to Audition for C. J. Cregg

Despite Allison Janney's prior acting experience, she was nervous during her audition for C.J. Cregg. When she arrived at the studio for her audition, there were over 20 casting directors and dozens of actors (working on other shows), which Janney, 64, thought were all for The West Wing.

Kevin Scott, the casting director, recalled she was "a nervous wreck" heading into her audition.

“Her eyes were, like, bugged out. I had to hold her hand and calm her down in the waiting room: ‘It’s gonna be fine, it’s gonna be fine,” Scott recalled, adding that had to explain to Janney what she was about to experience. “You’re gonna go into the room and see John Wells,” he said, according to What's Next. “You’re gonna see Aaron Sorkin, you’re gonna see [director] Tommy Schlamme.”

Retrospectively, it was "comical" to reflect on Janney's perspective. "When we think about how uniquely perfect she was for the role, to the point that it seems now to have been written for her, it’s hard to fathom the bout of insecurity she experienced in the audition’s aftermath."

Rob Lowe Negotiated Only One Audition for The West Wing time

When auditioning for Sam Seaborn, Rob Lowe's manager Bernie Brillstein said he was only interested in doing one read. Casting director John Levey said that Lowe "wouldn’t do chemistry readings with any other actors, wouldn’t test at the studio, wouldn’t test at the network.”

Lowe, of course, absolutely nailed the audition for the deputy White House communications director. Reflecting on the audition over 20 years later, Lowe said that he "loved auditioning with Aaron ... I couldn’t wait to do it. He and I immediately — I honestly don’t think it’s an overstatement to say — fell in love.”

Aaron Sorkin’s Famed Walk and Talk Was Inspired by Bill Clinton's Administration and His Staffers

If anyone was wondering where the infamous walk-and-talk scenes came, there's an explanation that involves real people — including George Stephanopoulos!

Before The West Wing, director Tommy Schlamme and his family stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom at the White House. While standing outside of the Oval Office waiting to speak to then-president Bill Clinton, Schlamme "witnessed a moment that would come to define what he calls 'the movement of the show.' "

“I remember the doors opening up and Stephanopoulos and other staffers coming out, talking to each other, some going this way, some going that way," he said. “It never stops, they’re constantly juggling, there was never downtime," he said. That continuous energy became an important part of The West Wing formula.

Aaron Sorkin Was Unsure If Bradley Whitford’s Character Would Survive the Assassination Attempt in The West Wing Season 1 Finale

Not even creator Aaron Sorkin was certain about the outcome of the pivotal moment of The West Wing season 1 finale, where Bradley Whitford's Josh Lyman got shot.

Whitford, 64, said that in filming the episode involving the assassination attempt, no one knew who got shot in the first place. While the show was on hiatus ahead of season 2, he got a call from Sorkin, 63, telling him "it's you."

“And he said it like it was a compliment!” Whitford recalled. “In that moment, all I could think was, I’m unemployed ... But Aaron quickly reassured me that Josh would survive.”

Sorkin didn't tell Schlamme about Lyman, either. Though they spoke about several possible scenarios, no one knew exactly what happened in the finale until season 2 was filming.

Glenn Close Was Nervous to Join The West Wing As Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Baker Lang

Fans may have not realized that Glenn Close was tense when on set for The West Wing for the first time as Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Baker Lang. Director Jessica Yu recalled the moment that surprised her while filming the season 5 episode.

“Everyone introduced themselves, and [Glenn] sat down and said, ‘I want you all to know that I’m very nervous,’” she recalled. “She wasn’t trying to disarm everyone else."

“[A West Wing episode] is a different thing — the pace of shooting, these speeches that you have to learn ... the pace of the scenes themselves ... She was nervous," Yu added.

Martin Sheen Once Operated a McDonalds Drive Thru After Filming on Location of The West Wing

Makeup artist Greg LaCava shared a memorable moment from The West Wing that involved Martin Sheen. One of many anecdotes that the book includes is a McDonald's visit that turned into a drive-through shift for the onscreen president.

While on location shooting Barlet in the presidential motorcade, they passed a McDonald's and Sheen went inside. "Martin — being Martin — went inside to say hello to everybody, which means, of course, that he’s got to get everyone’s name," LaCava said.

The actor then asked the restaurant employees if they needed "any help in the drive-through,” and he joined in on their shift. "All of a sudden, he's working the window, taking orders — he even has on the headset! You should’ve seen them when they pulled up for their burgers and fries," LaCava recalled.

"That’s the thing with Martin," he continued, "no matter the job, on The West Wing or at the drive-through, it’s an occupational hazard — he just loves to meet new people."

President Obama Was Such A West Wing Fan That He Watched the Show All Throughout His 2008 Campaign

Former president Barack Obama's former aide Reggie Love revealed that Obama, 63, loved The West Wing so much he used to bring the seven seasons of it on DVD (remember those?) while on the campaign trail.

"I carried it the whole campaign because every night he would watch an episode or two," Love said.

He also joked that he would be tired the next day after staying up too late watching The West Wing. "And there would be [times] where you’re like, 'Man, you’re kinda draggin’. We got a big day today. Did you stay up watching five episodes of The West Wing last night?'"

When Obama was elected president and moved to the White House, he and Love would watch the show together. The former aide still has the DVDs.

Jessica Lange, James Earle Jones Were Among the Actors Considered for President Bartlet

Though it can be hard to imagine anyone but Sheen as President Bartlet, many other actors' and actresses' names were tossed in the ring for the role.

Jack Lemmon, Bruce Dern, Donald Sutherland, Colin Powell, Johnny Carson, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Sidney Poiter, James Earl Jones, Clint Eastwood, Tom Brokaw, Walter Cronkite and Alan Alda were all candidates for the role.

Meanwhile, Helen Mirren, Blythe Danner, CCH Pounder, Glenn Close, Alfre Woodard, Stockard Channing, Jessica Lange, Jane Fonda, Sally Field and Carol Burnett were among the actresses considered, if they went with a female president.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

What's Next: A Backstage Pass To The West Wing, Its Cast And Crew, And Its Enduring Legacy Of Service is available now, wherever books are sold.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.