RICHARD POLLOCK: No Adults in the Room: No More ‘Wise Elders’ to Advise the President. “The demise of the wise men — or some approximation of it — is an interesting tale about changes in our own political culture. It can find its roots in the political upheaval of the 1960s. Young political radicals challenged the Democratic establishment, particularly its decision-making. They derided decisions made by political veterans and chipped away at the influence of the wise men. In the name of democratic reforms, they sought to change our presidential selection process. . . . At that moment, partisanship began to rule over statesmanship.”