Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times

Fed up with how divided we are? Ready to find common ground? In Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times, longtime unifier Dick Batchelor offers proven strategies for reaching consensus—whether at home, around the boardroom table, or in the political arena. Through real-life examples, Batchelor will show you how to:

• Address difficult conversations
• Move toward meaningful compromise
• Achieve lasting solutions

Batchelor challenges us all to change the conversation and become bridge-builders ourselves.

_____________________________

“Dick Batchelor has spent a lifetime bringing people together. From his time in the Florida House of Representatives, to his service during my Presidency on the US delegation observing South Africa’s first post-apartheid election and at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and beyond, he knows how to work with people with different perspectives to get things done. In Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times, he draws on his unique experiences to create a practical guide to reaching across divides and finding common ground. At a time when so many of us see those we disagree with not as people but as two-dimensional cartoons, we need his message more than ever. Who knows—if we follow Dick’s advice, we might find some common ground and start working together even when we disagree.”
—President Bill Clinton

“Dick Batchelor has dug deep into his life experiences to develop a ‘how to’ guide to find common ground, build consensus, and find solutions without violating one’s principles. Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times offers a counter narrative to our deeply divided times.”
—Jeb Bush, former Florida governor and former Republican presidential candidate

“Dick Batchelor and I could not have been more polar philosophical opposites when we served together in the Florida House of Representatives. Yet both of us recognized the importance of finding common ground. Yes, we can disagree without being disagreeable! The examples in the book often center on politics, but truly it is a great guide on how to live a productive life.”
—Toni Jennings, former Florida Senate president and former lieutenant governor under Gov. Jeb Bush

“Dick Batchelor and I are fellow bridge-builders. Our own political differences never stopped us from reaching agreement. This book is a bipartisan blueprint for how to get things done in a fractious world.”
—Mel Martinez, former U.S. senator and former secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President George W. Bush

Dick Batchelor is president of Dick Batchelor Management Group, Inc., a management consulting firm that specializes in business development, strategic governmental affairs, and public policy issues.For fifty years, Dick has been at the forefront when there was a need to bring people together and get things done. In addition to his eight years as a member of the Florida House of Representatives, where he authored and helped pass dozens of pieces of legislation, he has served internationally at the behest of President Bill Clinton.In 1994, Dick was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a member of the US delegation to observe the South African elections. He met with President-elect Nelson Mandela following the historic election that marked the end of the apartheid era.In 2000, President Clinton appointed Dick to the prestigious United Nations Commission on Human Rights. He traveled to Geneva, Switzerland, where he spent six weeks examining abuses and drafting resolutions to condemn violations made by certain countries. In classic bridge-building fashion, he rallied support from many nations before presenting a resolution to condemn Russia for its invasion of Chechnya. Three years later, Dick returned to Geneva as an observer to the fifty-ninth annual meeting of the commission in the wake of mounting global criticism surrounding the US 2003 invasion of Iraq.Here at home, Dick has been a tireless advocate for children and families, not only authoring legislation, but speaking, serving on countless boards, leading many campaigns, and raising millions of dollars to help those in need. To date, he has received over fifty community service awards.Dick is married to former Orlando news anchor Andrea Coudriet. They have three sons-Richard, David, and Matt.His website is DickBatchelor.com.