In the complex ecosystem of Washington DC, where influence is often measured in campaign contributions and legislative fine print, Andy Manatos stands as a bridge between two worlds: the high-stakes corridors of American power and the enduring values of the Hellenic spirit.
As a former US government official who worked under different administrations and today the President of Manatos & Manatos and a driving force behind the Washington Oxi Day Foundation, Manatos has spent over half a century ensuring that Greece, Cyprus, and the Ecumenical Patriarchate are not merely footnotes in US foreign policy but central priorities.
His story is the quintessential American success story—one rooted in the sacrifices of Cretan immigrants and a deep-seated belief that the “Greek lobby” is, at its core, a vehicle for American interests.
From Crete to the Senate basement
The foundation of Andy Manatos’ world was laid in 1910, when all four of his grandparents arrived in the United States from Crete. Like most immigrants of that era, they faced “hellish” struggles, yet they viewed America as a land of unimaginable blessings. “In Crete at that time, women didn’t even go to school,” Manatos reflects.
The realization that their children could not only attend school but potentially go to college was the ultimate reward for their sacrifice. This background of personal sacrifice instilled in him a profound sense of gratitude. Growing up in what was then a tough neighborhood in Washington DC served as a second blessing. “If you grow up in circumstances like that, when you finally are able to live in a safer area…you appreciate it ten times more.”
The path to political influence was a family legacy. His father worked in the Senate, and while Andy was still in graduate school, he followed suit, starting in a “basement-level” position. His rise was meteoric. He ascended from low-level staffer to the associate staff director of a major committee, eventually catching the eye of the Carter administration. At only 32 years old, Manatos was appointed as the youngest Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the US government.
The “Greek lobby”: A masterclass in advocacy
In the early 1980s, Manatos joined forces with his father to form Manatos & Manatos. Their work is perhaps best defined by a singular, historic achievement: the 1974 arms embargo against Turkey following the invasion of Cyprus.
“It’s the only time in modern history that the Congress overruled the White House and the State Department on a major foreign policy issue,” Manatos notes, speaking to Greek Reporter. This victory proved that with the right coordination, a well-organized minority could shift the trajectory of a superpower.
To Manatos, the “Greek lobby” is not an abstract concept but a sophisticated machinery of “spokes in a wheel.” While 350 million Americans can theoretically petition their 435 Representatives, the number of people who actually coordinate these efforts into meaningful policy is small.
The Andy Manatos “rules of engagement”
The Four-Minute Rule: Senators are juggling dozens of crises. To have an impact, a lobbyist must take a complex issue—like the rights of the Ecumenical Patriarch—and explain it accurately in under five minutes.
Zero exaggeration: “You can’t give them bad data, or they’ll never talk to you again,” he warns. In a city of spin, Manatos relies on “hard, accurate information.”
The American interest: This is the non-negotiable anchor of his work. “We make it very clear to every Senator…we are here pushing this policy to help America. If it’s not helping America, you’re dead in the water.”
The power of precedent: The White House meeting
Perhaps the most visible success of the Manatos legacy is that he helped establish the annual Greek Independence Day celebration at the White House. For over thirty-five years, every sitting President has met with the Greek-American community—a privilege shared only by the Irish. This tradition was not handed to the community; it was engineered. Manatos introduced legislation to recognize Greek Independence Day, which necessitated a presidential signature. Once the precedent was set, it became a political necessity.
“You have to maintain the precedent,” he explains to Greek Reporter. He recalls a moment during a time of war when White House staffers claimed a celebration was impossible. Manatos’ response was characteristically persistent: “Just tell me where the President will be for ten minutes…and I will have the Archbishop there.” They eventually held the meeting in a hotel to ensure the chain of history was not broken.
This meeting serves as more than a photo opportunity. It signals to the entire federal bureaucracy that the Greek-American community is “important.” When the President meets with the group, Cabinet members and senior officials follow suit, opening doors that were previously bolted shut.
The challenge of the modern era: AI and intolerance
While Manatos takes pride in the fact that Greeks rose from the bottom of the census data in education and income to the top in a single generation, he is wary of the current political climate. He views the decline of civics education as a crisis, leading to a “misinformation” cycle where different groups “throw rocks” at one another without understanding how their government actually functions.
Looking toward the future, Manatos expresses concern about the intersection of democracy and technology. “With AI coming up and quantum physics…can we stand to make decisions that take two years to do?” The American system of checks and balances was designed for a slower world. He prays that democracy can adapt to these technological leaps while maintaining the deliberate scrutiny that prevents power from being “carried away.”
Diplomacy and the “moving target”
Lobbying for Greece and Cyprus remains an uphill battle against adversaries with massive resources. Manatos speaks candidly about the difficulties of dealing with regional actors, particularly Turkish President Erdogan, whom he describes as a “master” of manipulation who has repeatedly misled US officials.
“The people causing problems for Greece have huge power and huge resources,” he says. Without a coordinated effort—without the fifty to one hundred key people who make up the heart of the Greek lobby—policy toward the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Cyprus would undeniably be “worse off.”
The legacy of OXI
Through the Washington Oxi Day Foundation, Manatos continues to bridge history and modern advocacy. By honoring the “No” (“Oxi” or “Ohi”) of the Greeks during WWII, he reminds Washington that Greece is not just a partner of convenience, but a nation of profound courage that has stood on the right side of history at the most critical moments.
For Andy Manatos, lobbying is not just about fundraising—though he admits it is a “valuable tool” for gaining a Senator’s attention. It is about “people skills, faith, and consistency” and the relentless pursuit of an America that remains true to its Hellenic-inspired democratic roots.