Letters on the Influencing of Esleon

Dear Protege, I'm pleased to hear of your campaign for governor! I am glad that you are following in my early footsteps, and I'd be more than pleased to provide you with advice. The method I would use in gaining the favor of the people is that of monopolizing their attention. Do whatever you can to eliminate thought of the familiar, favored candidate and replace it with reminders of your own campaign. Eventually, you will become the familiar candidate, and many voters will make their decision based more on familiarity than policy. Once you have the position, you'll have an easier time of keeping your defeated candidate out of the public eye and preventing him from reminding the people of his virtue, but do not fall into the trap of believing that you needn't still work at this. Familiarity and comfort are your best assets, so ensure that you fulfill whatever promises you've made that contribute to the people's safety and comfort. Ensure them that your governance will be easy for them and lull them into a sense of security that discourages action. If you accomplish all of these things, I have no doubt that you will make a skilled politician. With anticipation,
President Johnson

Dear Protege, You ask how to ensure your governance over the long-term. I admire your vision; it reminds me of my own, and true visionaries are hard to find. Ensuring long-term security requires action on three fronts. First, you must focus on the education of youth. If you can teach people what you want them to believe when they are young, they are much less likely to question it. This will give you entire generations of individuals who will believe what you wish, who can then be directed any which way. And when the majority believes in you, the minority will begin to cave. Once you've established a majority that trusts you, your primary task becomes to eliminate the minority that still suspects you. Begin with the elderly; they will put up little resistance, and there are more ways to eliminate them that will not arouse suspicion. It is convenient that the biggest risk--for they have the most knowledge and cling most strongly to tradition--is also the easiest to remove. With the elderly out of the way, develop means by which to wear down the remaining minority. Attack what they hold dear and make it as difficult as possible for them to hold their convictions. Those that refuse to cave will require more creativity, as you'll want to remove them without exposing your plot to those who trust you; one slip-up, if large enough, can bring a whole lifetime of work crashing down. Villainizing the opposition to your plans in educational curriculum may be enough to clear your actions with the majority. Once the minority has been eliminated and only your followers remain... you shall rule the world. With utmost encouragement,
President Johnson