CHAPTER 55
The Art of the Pivot
When he was running for president in 1992, Bill Clinton had a list of three fundamental campaign messages posted on the wall of his campaign headquarters:
1. “Change versus more of the same”
2. “The economy, stupid”
3. “Don’t forget health care”1
These three messages embodied the heart of what the Clinton campaign wished to convey to the country, which it did to the tune of a successful presidential election.
How was the Clinton campaign able to convey its message so effectively? One reason was the rhetorical skill of the candidate himself. Among President Clinton’s most estimable political skills, recognized by friend and foe alike, was his ability to pivot almost any discussion to one of his key campaign themes. ...
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