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Symington Looks to Consulting

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-934704.mp3

Phoenix, AZ – Symington said there are lots of people who hope to run for
office. But they've never dealt with reporters before.

(Let's just say, for example, they run into you in the lobby of a
hotel. And you're good. You start to ask a lot of questions.
Well, you know, that particular individual will be a total
neophyte and really not have a clue about what kind of a story
you're writing, your angle of attack, how to answer.)

He said it's not as simple as telling the truth.

(Because the media is relentless the way it comes at you, usually
with fairly negative questions, trying to put you off balance.)

Symington knows about that, as he found himself on the defensive
after revelations about his financial dealings before becoming
governor came pouring out. But he said that's exactly why someone
would be willing to pay him up to $15,000 for a two-day session.

(I've been there and survived it and won. So I've walked the
walk.)

Symington's win actually has an asterisk of sorts. His conviction
was overturned because of an error by the trial judge. But there
was no second trial because, in one of his last acts as
president, Bill Clinton, whom Symington saved from drowning as a
young man, preemptively pardoned him. For Arizona Public Radio
this is Howard Fischer.