Backroom Deals Quotes

Politics is such a torment that I would advise everyone I love not to mix with it.

Politics is the art of achieving power and prestige without merit.

Politics is a dirty business for a gentleman ...

As president, I'm not supposed to play games or show my hand, because there's a lot going on behind the scenes that you don't see or hear and don't need to know.

Any man familiar with public life realizes the foul gossip which ripples just under the surface about almost every public man, and especially about every President

Politics is comparable to boxing. The only thing is that in politics there are basically no rules. In boxing, you can get a black eye, but in politics you can get poison in your food or a bullet in the head. It's definitely rougher and tougher than other sports.

Corrupt Bargain

nations that talk democracy make dirty little secret deals with strategic allies who have no use for democratic values

... he [Thomas E. Dewey] is a political streetwalker accosting men with "come home with me dear.

Politics are impossible without spoils.... You have to deal with men as they are ... you must bribe the masses with spoils.

Political fealty trumps merit in the administration’s dealing with contractors.

Establishment, career politicians are about saying one thing and doing another.

I worked on Capitol Hill for five years, and I saw how things work and how they do not. I saw the partisanship, the gridlock, the pettiness, and the corruption.

In Washington, every closet has a revolving door.

Montanans elected me to the Senate to do away with shady backroom deals and to make government work better.

Backstabbing for Beginners: My Crash Course in International Diplomacy

We've seen a lot of dirty politics in Ireland.

…the nomination of Mr. Lincoln took everybody by surprise: it was brought about by accident or trick, by which my pledged friends had to vote against me… The thing was well planned and boldly executed.

It’s in their interest to keep a Republican majority …. It’s sort of ‘Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

There is something behind the throne greater than the King himself.

It's very interesting how Washington works. It's not about speeches. It's about relationships.

Oh, that all the things my father had told me about how disgusting Washington is are true. And again it's the system - there are lots of nice, well-meaning people there. But it's a sleazy place. And politics is all about doing favors.

As they say around the Texas Legislature, if you can't drink their whiskey, screw their women, take their money, and vote against 'em anyway, you don't belong in office.

There's a lot of politics in boxing and it's destroying the game.

The boss of all bosses operates like a shifty-eyed precinct captain on the make ... These are activities on would expect of a small-time ward heeler, not a figure of such influence and stature.