“‘What we’ve seen over the last couple of days is a whole assortment of personal and compelling reasons why people chose the career path of public service,’ said Julie Smith, a Europe expert who served as deputy national security adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden. ‘Outside of Washington, the image of public service has become a bad word — a bunch of dark suits who are there for the wrong reasons. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Most are idealists who want to make a difference and feel that way because they have a personal history or personal attachment to a set of issues…'”
