"We had kind of a rocky start, but I spent a lot of time working with the President and handing him statistics and showing him what we were doing as we went along and kind of saying to him, you know, this is really important"

The quote from Bruce Babbitt reviews a period of partnership and challenge in an expert setting. Babbitt, a skilled politician and public official, highlights the initial troubles dealt with in developing a working relationship with the President, suggesting that the start of their collaboration was not seamless. Describing it as "a rocky start" indicates the presence of misunderstandings, disagreements, or differing viewpoints at the beginning of their cooperation. It means potential obstacles in aligning their goals or methods within the dynamics of political decision-making.

Regardless of this challenging start, Babbitt stresses the effort he invested in bridging the gap, showing a proactive and persistent method. By actively engaging with the President through "investing a lot of time dealing with" him, Babbitt sought to develop commonalities and build a structure of trust and understanding. His approach included presenting factual "data" and ongoing updates about "what we were doing", suggesting a reliance on evidence-based info and transparency to convince and inform the President.

Babbitt's reference of "revealing him what we were doing as we went along" suggests a focus on accountability and communication. By keeping the President informed of their actions and progress, Babbitt demonstrated a commitment to open discussion, which is essential for promoting partnership and trust in any leadership situation. Furthermore, his statement that "this is really crucial" underscores the seriousness and significance of the work they were involved in. It reflects Babbitt's conviction about the significance of their efforts and decisions.

Overall, the quote provides insight into the complexities of political partnership, stressing the importance of persistence, reliable interaction, and evidence-based advocacy in overcoming initial difficulties and developing a successful working relationship. It highlights Babbitt's devotion to ensuring that important matters got the attention and comprehending they necessitated from leadership.