An éminence grise or grey eminence is a powerful decision-maker or adviser who operates behind the scenes, sometimes in a non-public or unofficial capacity. The phrase first referred to François Leclerc du Tremblay, a Capuchin priest who was the right-hand man of Cardinal Richelieu (grise was the colour of Tremblay’s robes). Many leaders have a trusted consultant. Dick Cheney was described as George W Bush’s éminence grise because, it was believed, W was too dim to make decisions without adult supervision. The Criminal Donald John Trump had several counselors and he listened to none of them. FDR had such an advisor, too, in the person of a newspaperman from Saratoga Springs. The guy stage-managed not only Roosevelt’s successful run for the New York Senate, governorship and the presidency, but he created Eleanor’s public persona too.
© 2024 John Oliver
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