A person who attempts to influence legislators or government officials on behalf of a particular interest group or cause.
From 'lobby' (entrance hall) where people would wait to meet officials, plus '-ist' suffix. The term originated in the 1830s American political scene, where influence-seekers would literally wait in the lobbies of hotels and government buildings to catch politicians for informal conversations.
The Willard Hotel lobby in Washington D.C. was so famous for political deal-making that President Ulysses S. Grant coined the term 'lobbyist' to describe the favor-seekers who pestered him there during his evening cigar breaks. Today's lobbying is far more sophisticated but the core concept remains unchanged!
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