This letter, written when I was 16, calls me “one of our top graduates” from what was known as the “toughest school in politics.” It notes that Leadership Institute founder Morton Blackwell personally graded my performance “A” with the words “Smart and articulate.”

This letter was more than a credential. It was an “access card” that confirmed I could be trusted.

In Chapter 7 of Normal Channels: Blocked or Compromised, I tell the full story of how I earned this letter, what a “fork test” at a dinner for Senator Jesse Helms revealed about this “insider” world, and how this vetting was the prerequisite for entry into Washington’s high-stakes coalition politics.

I have posted a free preview of the chapter, including the story behind this letter and the vetting process, on my Substack.

Click Here to Read the Free Preview of Chapter 7 on my Substack

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