Blogs and Stories
My Inside Tips for Sonia
)
Kenneth Duberstein and David Souter during Capitol Hill confirmation hearings, 1990. (Terry Ashe, Time Life Pictures/Getty Images)
7. Senators welcome mea culpas in your oral testimony. So do the American people, who are the real audience. Use mea culpas wisely. “I am sorry.” “I blew it.’ “I made a mistake.” Politicians have a hard time saying these words—thus the American public will find it refreshing when you do.
8. Pause for seven seconds before you answer any question. Ask yourself where the senator is going on his or her question. How will you answer play in the hearing room, on TV, especially cable, in the newspapers and blogs? Then answer carefully—but don’t violate my Sixth Commandent.
9. Have an answer for the one question you didn't want to be asked—because you will undoubtedly be asked that question. Nelson Rockefeller, during his vice presidential confirmation (appointed to replace Gerald Ford, he remains the only VP who’s had to go through this), famously did not want to answer this question: How much he was worth? Of course, the question was asked and, rather than dance around it, which he could have with preparation, the world learned that it wasn’t as much as they thought. Embarrassing!
10. Senators usually depart when the cameras are turned off, but remember: The microphone will still be on. The mike caught me once complaining to Joe Biden, then-chairman of the Judiciary Committee, why he was letting Arlen Specter go another round with David Souter when it was obvious the hearing (and confirmation fight) was over. So stay on the edge of your chair and do not relax. Leave without answering shouted press questions.
And here’s a bonus, my 11th commandment: You have the best lobbyist in the world at your disposal....the president of the United States, and a popular one at that. Use the president's influence judiciously—but use it.
If you're as truly extraordinary as President Obama advertises and follow these lessons from your predecessors, you'll be on the court on the first Monday in October and throwing out the first pitch at the new Yankee Stadium for the playoffs.
Xtra Insight: More Daily Beast contributors react to Sotomayor's nomination.
Kenneth Duberstein, Ronald Reagan’s White House chief of staff, is now chairman of the Duberstein Group.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
Obama, the Un-decider
Lee Siegel has written about culture and politics and is the author of three books: Falling Upwards: Essays in Defense of the Imagination; Not Remotely Controlled: Notes on Television; and, most recently, Against the Machine: Being Human in the Age of the Electronic Mob. In 2002, he received a National Magazine Award for reviews and criticism.
Very well done post, thank you.
Yes, very practical advice!
Mr. Duberstein, thx for sharing ur experience with us. Really appreciate it. I will be keeping these things in mind as the process plays out.
Thanks also for serving our country with dignity. Ur account of Reagan's last day in office around Obama's inauguration was extremely moving. As a Dem, I do hope to hear more from the more moderate wing of the GOP party.
I have a job interview tomorrow. Some menial position at a psychiatric ward. Do your pointers apply?
12. For goodness sake don't talk about your legal reasoning in deciding cases. The people might figure out what your beliefs are.
13. Be sure there are 59 senators of your party. It makes it much easier to get the 50 votes needed.
The most obvious question about Sotomajor's suitability for the SC is her health. An overweight insulin dependent diabetic she's at very high risk for diminished vision, kidney and nerve damage. The latter two can cause chronic fatigue and pain. She should release her medical records.
Are you advocating discriminating against someone because she has type 1 diabetes, an auto-immune disease she has through no fault of her own? She has successfully controlled the disease since the age of 8. It hasn't held her back up until now. Not to worry -- I think she'll be just fine. To educate yourself further, visit the web site of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
"Judge Bork became his own worst witness during his testimony by playing to the arrogant, elitist stereotype the opposition had created."
During Watergate, Richardson and Ruckleshouse resigned rather than fire Archibald Cox, but Bork played Nixon's puppet and fired him anyway.
Later, Bork merely reaped what he had sowed.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.
Please log in to leave comments.