Savvy politicians give some of the best advice

Savvy politicians give some of the best advice

By John Kelly
The Washington Post
August 17, 2021

Excerpts:

David Meyer is the mayor of the City of Fairfax. Before that, he served on the City Council. He’ll never forget the aphorism the since-retired city manager shared with him: “There are two things an elected official needs — gray hair and hemorrhoids. The gray hair makes you look distinguished, and the hemorrhoids give you a look of concern.”

I didn’t ask David whether he’s, um, grown into his role.

That’s just one of the memorable bits of advice readers have sent my way this week.

In 1990, Jay Silberman was running for the D.C. school board. On his way to a community event, he found himself stopped at a red light next to Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr.

“I rolled down my window and handed him my campaign flyer,” Jay wrote. “He glanced at it for a few seconds, and then called over: ‘Just remember this: People like to be asked and people like to be thanked.’ ”

The light turned green and the former speaker of the House sped off. Jay knew that he’d just received some of the best political advice ever given — and he won his election.

When the District’s Nick Allard served as dean of Brooklyn Law School, he got to know one of the school’s most famous graduates: David Dinkins, former mayor of New York City.

Nick once visited Dinkins to ask his advice about a particularly sticky administrative situation. The savvy pol leaned back in his chair, smiled and said, “Take two and hit to right.”

At first, Nick wasn’t sure what Dinkins meant. “But eventually I got what he was saying: Size up what you are dealing with,” Nick wrote. “And you don’t have to swing for the fences, just try the practical, doable things best for your team.”

Read full column here.