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Talking with an ego-sensitive Congress can be frustrating and time-consuming, but theres no way around it.

Thats some of the advice offered by the staff of the Clinton health policy team as it tried to build support in Congress for the health care overhaul.

Passing a health law will be impossible without identifying, getting to know, educating, stroking, and responding to an ideologically diverse and ego sensitive Congress that, individually and collectively, has become more and more independent, one document says on p. 109.

COMPLETE LIVE DIVE: Clinton White House Papers

This is a time consuming, redundant process that can seem to be (and frequently is) frustrating. But it is essential to increase the likelihood of a positive reception to the eventual Clinton health reform proposal.

Before meeting with lawmakers, Mrs. Clinton received advice from the health policy team about how to handle the personalities and interests involved separate memos suggesting how she should approach a skeptical House member or the Senate GOP leadership, for example.

At times, advisers suggest that Mrs. Clinton make a special gesture to show how much she values a lawmakers counsel.

I might suggest that you consider throwing out all of the staff at the end of the meeting to hold a five minute private meeting with him, aide Chris Jennings wrote in April 1993 (p. 81) to Mrs. Clinton before a meeting with Rep. Jim McDermott (D., Wash.), who was pressing for a single-payer health system. This will signal to him the closeness of your relationship with him, and the value you place on his confidential advice. (The subject could be on virtually anything.)

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Hillary Clinton Gets Advice on Congress