Machiavellian Rasputin Svengali VIP access bad influence behind-the-scenes operator big wheel calculator coconspirator conniver conspirator conspirer counterplotter court eminence grise exploiter finagler five-percenter fixer four-percenter friend at court gamesman good influence gray eminence heavyweight hidden hand influence influence peddler influencer ingroup intrigant intriguer key kingmaker lobby lobbyist logroller lords of creation machinator man of influence maneuverer manipulator open sesame operator opportunist plotter pork-barrel politician power broker powers that be pressure group schemer sinister influence special interests special-interest group strategist tactician the Establishment very important person wheeler-dealer