politics
Top row, left to right: Carly Fiorina, Charles R. Black, Karl Rove, Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. Bottom row, left to right: Al Gore, Tom Daschle, Wesley Clark, Don Beyer. At right: Howard Dean.
POLITICS, LAW AND LOBBYING BOB BARNETT PARTNER WILLIAMS & CONNOLLY
When former British Prime Minister Tony Blair needed a publisher, he called Barnett, a Washington attorney who has brokered book deals for former President Bill Clinton (who received a cool $10 million advance for the bestseller My Life) and former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan. Others on his impressive client list include Hillary Rodham Clinton, Bob Woodward, Lynne Cheney, Karen Hughes, Karl Rove, Katharine Graham, Ari Fleischer,Tim Russert, Stephen White, and Barack Obama.
ROBERT BENNETT PARTNER SKADDEN ARPS SLATE MEAGHER & FLOM
A former homicide trial prosecutor, Bennett’s clients have included ex-New York Times reporter Judith Miller, exWorld Bank president Paul Wolfowitz, and the Duke lacrosse players embroiled in the famous rape allegations in 2006. The
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real proof of his pedigree? He was former President Bill Clinton’s lawyer way back when, during the Paula Jones imbroglio.
WAYNE BERMAN MANAGING DIRECTOR OGILVY GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
An admitted political junkie, Berman served as assistant secretary of commerce during the administration of the first President Bush. He is the founder of Berman Enterprises, a lobbying and business consulting firm he merged with The Federalist Group (for a princely sum) and which was recently acquired by Ogilvy Government Relations (where he raked in even greater sums). His role as one of McCain’s early financial supporters is sure to increase his influence if the Republicans retain the White House.
DON BEYER FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA MID-ATLANTIC FINANCE CHAIR FOR OBAMA AND OWNER DON BEYER VOLVO
With whispers growing louder that former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner is on
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the short list as Barack Obama’s VP pick, Beyer becomes one of the top Democrats to run for the open Senate seat from Virginia. Either way, he came out early for Obama, and with his wife Megan (who serves on the Women For Obama steering committee with Governor Kane’s wife Anne Holton and Sheila Johnson) has raised a bundle for the candidate as his mid-Atlantic finance director, where he serves with Hyatt heiress Penny Pritzker, Obama’s Presidential National Finance Committee Chair. In short, Beyer has access and clout aplenty.
CHARLES R BLACK FOUNDER BKSH & ASSOCIATES
Black recently left his plush position as chairman (and founder) of the lobbying firm BKSH & Associates, where highprofile clients included General Motors, United Technologies, JP Morgan and AT&T, to work full-time for Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign. Black worked on both the Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidential campaigns and served as an advisor to George W. Bush’s campaigns in 2004 and 2000, where he
played a significant role in the Florida recount. Other inner-sanctum lobbyists who have hitched their wagon to McCain’s rising star include former Rep. Tom Loeffler (R-Texas), who founded the Loeffler Group, and Kirk Blalock of Fierce, Isakowitz & Blalock, who leads McCain’s younger supporters and has raised more than $250,000 for him.
THOMAS HALE BOGGS JR PARTNER HALE & BOGGS
This year, Boggs’ firm was ranked number one in the National Journal’s listing of Washington lobbying powers. Often labeled “King of the Hill,” most still view Tommy Boggs as the “King of K Street.” His firm boasts the highest receipts of any other lobbying firm, and includes clients ranging from large corporations to large nations.
WILLIAM J CLINTON CHAIRMAN WILLIAM J CLINTON FOUNDATION
Regardless of whether or not Sen. Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, the former President will continue to
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