Policymaking in large bureaucracies is hardly a simple process. Even the most respected policymakers have to contend with obstacles that seemingly have little to do with the issue at hand—office politics, work structure, and shifting political environments. Yet learning to manage such complex environments is necessary for good policymaking. This book outlines the complex thought processes of policymakers as they struggle to influence both foreign and domestic policy decisions from within the United States government bureaucracy. Focusing on three critical situations to illuminate the politics of policy choice—the successful attempt to sell missiles to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in the 1980s; the Iran-Contra scandal; and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s attempt to regulate smoking as well as the efforts to do the same by an outside lobbyist—the book dissects the intuitive yet rigorous framework that highly skilled policymakers follow in order to influence government outcomes. Throughout, this book offers detailed accounts of the policy process at work in the Reagan, first Bush, and Clinton administrations, from the cabinet level down to the middle tiers of the federal bureaucracy. The book describes the shifting real-world conditions that government officials face as they struggle to shape the policy agenda, offering a look at the complex considerations involved from all perspectives, with concrete examples.