Coalition Building

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Paul Teller

Former Deputy Assistant to the President & Director for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Vice President

Paul Teller is the Executive Director of Advancing American Freedom, the policy-and-action organization that Vice President Mike Pence created after departing the White House. Prior to this honor, Paul served all four years in the Trump-Pence White House: first as a Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, where he operated as the White House liaison to U.S. House and Senate conservatives and to all the groups and activists of the Conservative Movement who were helping advance the President’s legislative agenda; and subsequently as Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Vice President, where he served as the Vice President’s liaison to the Conservative Movement at large.
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Sarah Makin

Former Deputy Assistant to the President & Director of Public Liaison & External Affairs, Office of the Vice President

On LinkedIn, Makin, a University of Connecticut graduate, lists her title as a deputy assistant to the president; various reports also describe her as Pence’s director of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs. She’s worked in the past as a congressional aide and as a lobbyist, according to online documents and media reports. She is one of only a few original staffers left in the vice president’s office, having been tapped by Pence to join his team in early January 2017.

An Overview of Coalitions

  • What is a coalition?
    • A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal
    • Building coalitions means you are engaging people on the outside of government to influence policy
    • Individuals who take part in coalition groups are passionate about specific industries or policy areas, they are vocal, and they want to make a difference
    • Examples of coalition groups: the pro-life movement, supporters of the second amendment, religious liberty groups
  • Why are coalitions important?
    • These individuals elected the President and expect the President and their administration to make good on campaign promises
    • These individuals serve as a voice for the American people and can advise the administration on what policies are needed
    • These are the individuals who will determine the outcome of the next election
  • Where can coalition work be accomplished?
    • The main place to work in coalitions is the White House Office of Public Liaison
    • However, coalition work can and should be done throughout the administration
    • Building relationships with the American public is important!
  • Should I work in coalitions?
    • Do you like working at the intersection of people and ideas?
    • Do you enjoy policy AND building relationships?
    • When working in coalitions you get a front row seat to the impact of the President’s policy agenda

What to do on Day One

  • Start small. Don’t take on too much at once
  • Figure out who your key allies are
  • Make yourself available
  • Take initiative - proactively reach out to people
  • Listen twice as much as you speak!

How to use Coalitions to Advance the President’s Agenda

  • You are an extension and a reflection of the President in your role
  • Coalition relationships should be genuine and mutually supportive, not transactional
  • Once you have built trust, you can then use coalition groups to help advance policy. 
  • Tangible actions/requests for coalitions partners:
    • Release statements in support of specific bills or presidential actions
    • Attend presidential events to show support (in DC or across the country)
    • Speak at presidential events to show how specific policies have positively impacted their industry
  • Pre-existing relationships and trust are crucial

Best Practices

  • Build contact lists that can be sorted by interest (one person can be on multiple lists!)
  • If you meet someone at a conference, get their business card, take it back to your desk, and put that person on as many lists as possible
  • Bring people in, make them feel involved between major action items
    • Send out a weekly or monthly update email
  • Meet with coalition partners BEFORE a policy roll out and ask good questions:
    • What do you think about this?
    • How would you frame it?
    • Are you willing to participate?
    • Are you willing to help amplify?
  • Soliciting feedback makes people feel involved and in that process, you acquire great ideas
  • Remember: You are a reflection of the administration and of the President in everything you do, everything you say, and everything you write. 
  • Don’t be afraid to get to know people on a personal level. It doesn’t always have to be all policy!
    • You will have opportunities to make people feel unique - for example, requesting a letter be sent from the President
  • Share your contact information and encourage people to reach out to you
  • Make sure to invite coalition partners to a variety of events - schedule an informal coffee, invite them to a roundtable, request their attendance at a Presidential event
  • Seek out mentors - reach out to former conservative political appointees for guidance!
  • Build a team around you - the bigger your team, the more people you can reach
  • Each person on the coalitions team should lean into their strengths, interests, and background
  • It’s okay to go outside your comfort zone too!

Damage Control

  • Address any negative situations immediately
  • Give coalition partners the opportunity to express their concerns - make sure they feel heard
  • Pivot to show them something you have done or can do for them - offer real solutions
  • You represent the President and sometimes you just have to take the heat
  • If you messed up, apologize and find a way to make it up to the person