Former President Clinton is revealing some of his “rules of politics,” which include avoiding bringing “your feelings to work,” never drinking in public and taking criticism “seriously but not personally.”
In an excerpt published Friday by People from his forthcoming memoir, “Citizen,” the 42nd president discloses his “Clinton’s Rules of Politics,” which he said he has kept handy for decades to “explain, enlighten and lighten up political conversations.”
Among the 13 items listed are a tip to “Never drink in public — you might act like yourself,” and “Everyone is for change in general but often against it in particular — it depends on whose ox is being gored.”
Other words of wisdom from the 78-year-old ex-commander in chief include: “You’re always most vulnerable when you feel invulnerable or when you’re angry and exhausted,” Whenever you hear, ‘It’s nothing personal,’ brace yourself,” and “Don’t give up on people — if you dig long enough, there’s almost always still a person down there somewhere.”
The No. 1 piece of advice Clinton credits to late Speaker Sam Rayburn (D-Texas), writing, “Never tell anyone to go to hell unless you can make them go.”
In his book, poised to be released on Tuesday, the former president said he came up with a new rule following his wife Hillary Clinton’s 2016 election loss to Donald Trump.
“If you’re ever in the room with someone who says … ‘but you’re going to win anyway,’ smile, thank them for their time and get out of that room as fast as you can,” Clinton wrote.
“They may want you to win, but they don’t want to speak up for you for fear of criticism or punishment. ‘Anyway’ is the tell word. When you hear it, get ready to move,” he said.
