High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Leo Thomas McGarry is a fictional character played by John Spencer on the television serial drama The West Wing. The role earned Spencer the 2002 Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. McGarry`s character, the former United States Secretary of Labor, begins the series as the White House Chief of Staff. He is President Josiah Bartlet`s best friend and a father figure to the Senior Staff, particularly Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman.