“The oldest story in Washington is a new president elected on a pledge to clean up Washington, who then turns to old Washington hands and well-connected financiers to help shepherd his administration.”

—  Rich Lowry

No, the Swamp Won't Be Drained (December 01, 2016)
Context: It wasn’t quite “build the wall” or “lock her up,” but “ and anti-Washington Donald Trump. The swamp will endure; it always does. This doesn’t mean that a Trump administration can’t make the swamp less important.

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "The oldest story in Washington is a new president elected on a pledge to clean up Washington, who then turns to old Was…" by Rich Lowry?
Rich Lowry photo
Rich Lowry 5
American journalist 1968

Related quotes

Ian Bremmer photo

“New York used to be the financial capital of the world. It's no longer even the financial capital of the U. S. For the moment, Washington is.”

Ian Bremmer (1969) American political scientist

"The New Capitals of Capital," http://fearandloathingingtown.blogspot.com/2009/03/quote-of-day_21.html Forbes (March 19, 2009).

Rahm Emanuel photo

“This is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center.”

Rahm Emanuel (1959) politician, investment banker, White House Chief of Staff

House Minority Leader John Boehner on Obama's hiring Emanuel as White House Chief of Staff, as quoted in San Francisco Chronicle http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/06/MN6C13VKH5.DTL&type=politics.
About

Milton Friedman photo

“The old saw is that the Quakers went to the New World to do good and ended up doing well. Today, well-meaning reformers go to Washington to do good and end up doing harm.”

Milton Friedman (1912–2006) American economist, statistician, and writer

Source: An Economist's Protest: Columns in Political Economy (1966), p. 155

Jesse Helms photo

“I didn't come to Washington to be a 'yes man' for any president, Democrat or Republican. I didn't come to Washington to get along and win any popularity contests.”

Jesse Helms (1921–2008) American politician

In 1989, as quoted in The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/05/us/politics/00helms.html (2008)
1980s

Newt Gingrich photo

“If this just degenerates after a historic election, back into the usual bologna of politics in Washington and pettiness in Washington, then the American people I believe will move towards a third party in a massive way.”

Newt Gingrich (1943) Professor, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives

In appearance on CBS News http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImvI-G5gA9g (11 November 1994)
1990s

Najib Razak photo

“The fact that President Obama gave up his public holiday (today is the President’s Day) and held the US-Asean Leaders Summit has shown Washington’s recognition towards the importance of Asean”

Najib Razak (1953) Malaysian politician

Najib hopes that presidents in the future will be like Obama, quoted on Free Malaysia Today (February 16, 2016), "Najib hopes future US presidents will be like Obama" http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/02/16/najib-hopes-future-us-presidents-will-be-like-obama/

Alberto Gonzales photo

“President Washington, President Lincoln, President Wilson, President Roosevelt have all authorized electronic surveillance on a far broader scale.”

Alberto Gonzales (1955) 80th United States Attorney General

2006-02-06 Senate Judiciary Committee testimony http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/06/AR2006020600931.html.

Sarah Palin photo

“Well, I'm not a member of the permanent political establishment. And — I've learned quickly these past few days that if you're not a member in good standing of the Washington elite, then some in the media consider a candidate unqualified for that reason alone. But — now here's a little news flash. Here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country.”

Sarah Palin (1964) American politician

[Alex Johnson, Palin fires back at media, ‘Washington elite’, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26525268/, MSNBC, 2008-09-04, 2008-09-04]
2008, 2008 Republican National Convention

Calvin Coolidge photo

“[Speaking of Chinese president Sun Yat-sen] …combined Benjamin Franklin and George Washington of China.”

Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American politician, 30th president of the United States (in office from 1923 to 1929)

Source: As quoted in The Human Odyssey: Volume 2 by Tanim Ansary et al, p. 653.

Osama bin Laden photo

“Leave us alone, or else expect us in New York and Washington.”

Osama bin Laden (1957–2011) founder of al-Qaeda

2000s, Letter to the American people (2002)
Context: Sixthly, we call upon you to end your support of the corrupt leaders in our countries. Do not interfere in our politics and method of education. Leave us alone, or else expect us in New York and Washington.

Related topics