ABOUT:
Defense policy analysis, commentary and discussion.Rebecca Gale is a contributing editor for Roll Call. Prior to coming to CQ Roll Call, Rebecca worked as a press secretary and communications director for senators and members of Congress on Capitol Hill. She has also worked on presidential and congressional campaigns, both as spokesperson and communications director. She graduated with honors from Miami University in Ohio and has a master's degree in political communication from the Johns Hopkins University. Her short stories have appeared in anthologies published by Boxfire Press, and her debut novel, "Trying," was published by Boxfire Press in December 2012.
Robert Getzoff, a longtime Capitol Hill staffer with deep community ties, died July 15, and the tributes to him offer an insider’s view of how closely people work together on the Hill, as well as how important humor can be in forging workplace bonds.
One of the most humbling parts of Capitol Hill is that so many of the top staffers started near the bottom. Many have answered phones, written constituent mail, stormed the halls of Rayburn getting signatures on a “Dear Colleague” letter — and then the right opportunity came and they were promoted to bigger and better things.
What happens to your life on Capitol Hill if you’ve got a baby on the way? While leave policies vary among offices, there are several key pieces of information and terms that might be helpful in making a graceful exit for maternity/paternity leave and knowing what to talk about in your office.
Robert Getzoff, a longtime Capitol Hill staffer with deep community ties, died on July 15. Reps. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., and Timothy H. Bishop, D-N.Y., recently memorialized him on the floor of the House, paying tribute to his long Hill career in a joint statement submitted for the Congressional Record.
The small town world of Washington, D.C., rings especially true on Capitol Hill, arguably more than any other place in the District. This means the friendships you form, the co-workers you have and even your romantic relationships are likely to follow you, on and off the Hill. But what happens when your job responsibilities put you directly in your ex’s path? Hill Navigator offers some advice on how to grin and bear it as the consummate office professional.
Capital Fringe is well under way in its eighth year in Washington, D.C. While the two-and-a-half-week theater festival doesn’t have the draw of its New York counterpart, it still brings a great deal of artistic talent to the area and a chance to showcase independent productions to a wide-ranging audience. Over an 18-day period in 18 venues, 130 different shows will provide 738 performances. One of those shows is “Last Train to Nibroc.”
BuzzFeed‘s Evan McMorris-Santoro has a story out today about unpaid White House internships:
Q. I am a Democrat working for a very progressive Democrat. But after years of public service, I am ready to “cash out.” Although this is something that most staffers eventually do, I am having a difficult time figuring out how to tell my office since I work for such a progressive member. Any advice on how to break the news?
Former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman‘s words of wisdom? Don’t waste your energy raising campaign money all the time.
Marc Korman has gained a new appreciation for his old bosses.
My colleague Jason Dick wrote in Roll Call’s After Dark Blog about the recent study that Americans aren’t taking as much vacation as they should. And the vacation we do take? We stay plugged in. We just love work that much.
With summertime comes an influx of Capitol Hill internships. For many, the intern experience can be a first foray into the professional world. But what if you land in an office where you don’t see exactly eye-to-eye with the boss? This week’s Hill Navigator discusses what happens when the interns have opinions of their own.
If someone tells you “everybody does it,” or “that is just how things are done here,” don’t believe it; that is kindergarten logic.
“Talent will take you to the top, but only character will keep you there.”
Q. What’s your take on the long goodbye emails staffers love to send? You know the ones: I am moving on, I learned so much here, I am grateful blah blah blah. Sometimes I get one from someone I didn’t even know! Is this just a Hill thing and do I have to subscribe to it?
Hill Navigator doesn’t claim to know all the answers. I read each and every question, and every attempt is made to provide a framework for solving work-related problems, especially those pertaining to Capitol Hill staff.
Dylan Matthews of The Washington Post has a story out that touches on a classic Capitol Hill question: Should unpaid internships be illegal?
Not even personal email accounts are safe when your expletive-laden missive makes its way to K Street.
Every summer without fail, the Capitol Hill tradition of congressional baseball comes back in full force.
For Antonio Ward, the hardest part was admitting that he couldn’t read.
Shelf Life is back to hear from another Washington insider about her favorite books and inspirational reads.
Something special about Capitol Hill: Nearly everyone gets business cards. You can be 22 years old, three weeks out of college, and still get a raised-print, golden eagle card with your name and “STAFF ASSISTANT” embossed on the front.
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Roll Call has launched a new feature, Hill Navigator, to advise congressional staffers and would-be staffers on how to manage workplace issues on Capitol Hill. Please send us your questions — anything from office etiquette, to handling awkward moments, to what happens when the work life gets too personal. Submissions will be treated anonymously.
