DAVID RUBENSTEIN’S LOBBYING TALENTS

“In the summer of 2007, David Rubenstein went to Capitol Hill to appeal to the Democrats. He visited the Finance Committee offices, according to former staffers, and met with [Max] Baucus. Rubenstein’s familiarity with Capitol Hill provided what so many others tried to acquire by means of campaign contributions: he was on a first-name basis with dozens of members of Congress. One lobbyist who visited Capitol Hill with Rubenstein told me that he has a ‘policy focus. He’s very cerebral, and could make an argument and articulate it. He’s a salesman.’ [Stuart] Eizenstat [the former White House official] said, ‘He’s created a sort of halo effect wherever he goes.’”

Alec MacGillis, “The Billionaires’ Loophole,” New Yorker, March 14, 2016, pp: 64-73.