Gates, a longtime proponent of the green policy agenda further favored by the Biden administration, sat down with Manchin to address the senator's hesitancy to back some of the president's climate policy and helped persuade Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to continue seeking a deal with Manchin after the first fell through, according to Bloomberg. Gates's campaign and maneuvering from environmental and renewable energy lobbyists ultimately helped the two senators reach a deal and pass the Inflation Reduction Act earlier this month.
"I will say that it's one of the happier moments of my climate work," Gates told Bloomberg. "I have two things that excite me about climate work. One is when policy gets done well, and this is the biggest moment like that."
WATCH: NICOLE WALLACE AND THE END OF DEMOCRACY
When Schumer and Manchin declared their deal at the end of July, it shocked those who followed Manchin's opposition to the big-spending bills President Joe Biden had backed, including the Build Back Better legislation and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. His opposition in the 50-50 split Senate was enough to sink them both last year. Yet, Gates persisted in discussing the viability of climate legislation with Manchin on several known occasions during 2022.
YIKES! IS MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE LOSING HER 'GRIP' IN POWER STRUGGLE?
"I kept trying because I just didn't see another chance," Gates announced, who had cultivated a relationship with Manchin for three years due to the latter's position on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
EIGHT U.S. NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS TAKE ON AI GIANTS IN BRAZEN LAWSUIT
Gates shared a meal with Manchin and his wife in January, where they reportedly discussed the reliance of West Virginians on coal mining jobs. Gates proposed that some of these jobs could be replaced with those that would come from small nuclear power plants, yet it wasn't enough, as Manchin declared Build Back Better "dead" on Feb. 1 in response to rising fears over inflation.
WATCH: FETTERMAN CONFRONTED BY A PRO-HAMAS ACTIVIST
Though on July 7, both attended the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Idaho, an annual hub for movers and shakers in industry and media. Manchin was willing to reconsider at this point.
"We talked about what was missing, what needed to be done," Gates announced. "And after that, it was a lot of phone calls."
TESLA IN TURMOIL: MUSK OUSTS TOP EXECS AND PREPARES FOR MASSIVE LAYOFFS, WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Schumer and Gates had likewise been in communication, and at one point, Schumer opined that he had "shown infinite patience" with Manchin, according to Gates, who asked him to stick it out a little longer.
"You're right," Gates recalled telling Schumer. "All you need to do is show infinite plus one patience."
Discover alternative ideas that will make you think
Engage in mind bending debate
Earn points, rise in rank, have fun
