Word: consensus
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Another Southern Democrat, Jack Brooks of Texas, also played a shrewd backstage role as the committee struggled for consensus. A persistent Nixon critic, Brooks prepared and distributed to all members of the committee a sweeping series of articles of impeachment that were poorly drawn
...Democrats and impeachment-leaning Republicans. The Southerners were able to shuttle between the two groups and thus were especially influential. Surprisingly, the coalition group moved more quickly toward agreement than the all-Democratic drafters. By the end of Tuesday, said one of the coalition Congressmen, "we had unanimity, a consensus, in two major areas: the abuse of power and the obstruction of justice." It was then clear that at least four Republicans ? Railsback, Cohen, Butler and Fish ? would go for impeachment...
...President Nixon announced plans in 1973 for the dismantling of OEO, the consensus in Congress was that the Legal Services Program should be made an independent corporation insulated from political pressures. Amendments were passed to prevent lawyers from legislative lobbying and from litigating in favor of either abortion or school desegration. One measure even prohibited lawyers from rioting or engaging in any civil disturbances...
...persuade people of the need to effect compromise, to restore the belief in consensus, not only inspiration will be needed but, perhaps more important, a very old political skill. Harry Truman spoke of it when he said: "You know what makes leadership? It is the ability to get men to do what they don't want to do and like it." That really amounts to a redefinition of self-interest. As Barney Frank
According to an old Japanese proverb, "A nail that protrudes is hammered down." The qualities of individualism, original thinking and outspokenness are not admired. What counts is reliability, confidence that the chosen man will not violate the defined perimeter of consensus. Within that perimeter, he should have a talent for manipulation and accommodation so as to minimize friction and confrontation...