Amateur policymakers think government service is about aspiration. Professionals know it’s about perspiration.

Two years before the North Texas Democrat was elected to Congress, Frost backed Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter for President over Texas Senator Lloyd Bentsen for the 1976 Democratic nomination.

They all shape our politics, for better and worse. A saucy, perfectly delivered retort by Democratic vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen didn’t hurt the Bush-Quayle ticket. But it dogged ...