Sherpa (political consultant)

Sherpa is a word taken from the language of the Sherpa, a nomadic people of the Himalayas. It literally means 'people of the East'.[2] The English word sherpa originally referred to people hired as porters and guides by climbers of the Himalayan Mountains. Sherpas have a long history of helping to navigate difficult mountain terrain. Senate confirmation has been compared to mountain climbing: dangerous and exhausting. Like the Himalayan climbers, nominees need guides "through the obstacle course of interviews and hearings".[3]

Supreme Court and top Cabinet post nominations have become increasingly partisan and contentious. Nominees for these positions now have designated sherpas with extensive political experience and are reliable.[4] Sub-cabinet nominees are generally handled by department level political staff.[5] The role of chief strategist and stage manager, to get someone confirmed, is unpaid, largely out of public view and without official title.[6] The role has many facets:

• Media messenger – shaping the candidate's image, devising strategies to deal with reporters and coordinating calls with key senators[4]
• Traffic cop – everybody wants a bit of time with the nominee[4]
• Liaison with both the Senate and the administration; act as escort for nominee to meet senators and be an adviser for the president[7]
• Coach – what to say and when to say it and how to have proper demeanor:[5] low profile, suitably humble, deferential, polite and persuasive in answering questions[6]
• Confidant and sounding board[4]
• Counselor[4] and hand holder[6]

Tom C. Korologos, who guided some 80 Nixon and two dozen Reagan nominations[6]

• Kelly Ayotte for Justice Neil Gorsuch[2]
• Jon Kyl for Justice Brett Kavanaugh[2]
• Ken Duberstein for Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas[4]
• Fred D. Thompson and Ed Gillespie for Chief Justice John Roberts[4]
• Michael S. Berman for Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg[4]
• Doug Jones for Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson[7]
• Cynthia Hogan for Justice Sonia Sotomayor[8]
• Tom Korologos for Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, and Justice Antonin Scalia[6]

• Sherpa (emissary)