How Washington DC Works

An interestin article from the National Journal on how Washington DC works.

It all comes down to relationships," says Preston Gates & Ellis lobbyist Mark Ruge, noting that Washington makes laws, not widgets. "The definition of a social group in Washington always has a professional element as well." Not everyone might agree with that assessment. But given the very social character of work in and around government, it's not cynical to point out that off-the-clock relationships carry over into Washington's working hours.

Among Washington's political class of current and former Hill staffers, lawyers, legislators, and lobbyists, sometimes the most valuable relationships are the ones that are formed outside the office and focus on activities with no immediate professional aspect. For some, those bonds grow out of race or religious affiliation. For others, they are the friendships formed in the easy atmosphere of the dugout or the gym.

Where and when those relationships are formed is important, because the offices of Washington aren't neutral ground. Take, for instance, two of the city's premier lobbying firms.

The offices of both Barbour Griffith & Rogers and Preston Gates offer impressive picture-window views of buildings and monuments. Not accidentally, they are the first thing a visitor is shown upon arrival: Such views make guests feel a bit special, and a bit smaller. Politics' closest cousin -- sports -- also recognizes the home-field advantage and the leveling effect of after-hours encounters on neutral turf. Softball fields and tennis courts can be places where trust is built and lines of communication are established.

One reason off-hours relationships are important is because careers in Washington often take a meandering path forward. Congressional staffs turn over regularly, and the names of political appointees change with each new administration. Every week, lobbyists set up a new shop or join another firm. But having a persistent relationship with familiar faces outside of work can ease the transitions between jobs and tip off job hunters to new positions.

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