Tim Cook is without a problem Apple’s key lawyer

The White House
A report has revealed how Tim Cook became the chief lobbyist of Apple. It’s not surprising, given Cook’s and Steve Jobs’ history of influencing governments around the world. Apple has always tried to appease the U.S. Government, including lobbying legislators to get its way. Tim Cook, the CEO of Apple, has also been heavily involved in lobbying. A report released by the Tech Transparency Project on Tuesday tries to explain how Tim Cook became the Apple’s head lobbyist. Cook visited Washington a few weeks following the filing of the antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice against Apple. Cook’s April trip was a stark contrast from the aggressive response to Apple’s lawsuit. The CEO was described as wearing a formal tuxedo at a state dinner hosted by the Japanese Prime Minister who was visiting the White House. The event allowed him to mingle with top-level officials both from the U.S. The report claims that this is a demonstration of how Cook conducts his “face-to face diplomacy” to defuse threats against Apple. Cook, who is soft-spoken and is described as being unique for his interactions with officials, compared to other CEOs. He is also credited with being central to Apple’s efforts to influence governments. The article continues to discuss the many times Cook visited the White House and tried to influence Europe. It also discusses how he personally worked to appease China. Apple’s massive efforts to influence governments are nothing new. Even before Cook became CEO, Apple was lobbying. Jobs’ influence job As Apple’s co-founder, Steve Jobs was not known for his involvement with the U.S. Government. He still allowed large sums of cash to be spent. Apple spent $340,000 on lobbying in the first quarter of 2009, and $390,000. This was all for broadband funding and education efforts. Apple spent $1.5m on lobbying during the entire year 2009. According to a Politico article from 2010, this was much less than other companies, such as Google, which spent $4 million, Microsoft, who spent $7 million, and AT&T, who spent $15 million. A million dollars spent on lobbying is a lot of cash, regardless of the size of a company. Jobs allowed lobbying to grow Apple despite his desire to stay as far away from Washington as possible. Cook-era Influence As Apple grew under Cook, lobbying expenditures increased. Even with its sheer size, Apple still spends a relatively small amount. Apple is still outspent even at $9.9m for 2023. Cook’s approach is what makes a difference. Cook decided to speak with those in power, and work with them, rather than spend more money on lobbying. Cook found that he could have a much greater impact on lawmakers by simply meeting them, rather than spending money. Cook has maintained close ties with the White House throughout his tenure as CEO. In March, it became known that Apple had visited President Joe Biden’s White House 87 time in the four years he was in office. This included 11 visits by Cook himself. These visits included two out of four state meals, allowing him the opportunity to meet with French president Emmanuel Macron and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Donald Trump praised Cook’s communicationCook’s choice to be nice to Biden was not a party thing. He spent a lot time talking with former U.S. president Donald Trump and received compliments for his direct communication. Trump called Cook a “great executive” for calling “whenever a problem arises.” Trump said that in 2019, while others “go and hire very expensive consultant,” “he calls me and other don’t.” Cook’s concerns are not limited to the United States. His hands-on style has led him to visit governments all over the world. Apple’s strong position in China has been strengthened by his repeated dealings, including visits and high-value agreements. Cook has learned to value his attention and he will continue to use it throughout his tenure as Apple’s CEO.