Influencing Legislation - Ellen Voie

Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States. He reportedly liked to relax in the Willard Hotel’s lobby in Washington DC, where he would sit with a cigar and a glass of brandy. Over time, political advocates would gather to buy him a drink for a few minutes of his attention and to influence his decisions.

The term “lobbyist” was eventually used to describe these men seeking to change the President’s views. Today we use the term to describe a person whose job is to influence our elected officials’ policies and attitudes. Special interest groups hire these people to represent them and their members.