One of my favourite Ben Franklin stories was they were approaching a crucial vote where he didn't have the support he needed. He figured out he needed the vote

One of my favourite Ben Franklin stories was they were approaching a crucial vote where he didn't have the support he needed. He figured out he needed the vote of a specific person who had always been his enemy.[1] What he did was write the guy a letter saying that he had always wanted to read a particular book that this dude had in his library and ask to borrow it. After borrowing the book he returned it with a courteous letter of thanks and not only did the person support his vote but became his lifelong friend. Ben Franklin explained to others that asking the guy for a favour made all the difference because there was no way his brain could rationalise him doing a favour for someone he didn't like and therefore they became friends. [1] https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/02/20/the-benjamin-franklin-effect-mcraney/ https://www.themarginalian.org/2014/02/20/the-benjamin-frank...