The Education of an Idealist: A Memoir

by Samantha Power

“Yes,” she said warmly. “But I want to warn you, the space is really small.” I said I didn’t care how big my office was, reminding her that I had worked out of a backpack for years as a reporter, requiring only a notebook, pen, and laptop. But then I hesitated. “Is it a lot smaller than the other Senior Directors’ offices?” I inquired. There was a long pause. “For now, yes,” she said. Something similar happened when the NSC Human Resources Department informed me of my salary. I did not question the figure they presented, knowing that I would take a pay cut from working at a private university. The following day, however, I learned from a male colleague, also a Senior Director, that he would be paid five thousand dollars more than me. Instead of demanding a pay raise, I emailed Lippert, saying I had learned of the two salary tiers for Senior Directors. I asked what I would need to do to earn the higher pay. Lippert called immediately, and, since I wasn’t home, apologized to Cass. He said the mix-up would be corrected, which it was, but I wondered if I was experiencing bad luck or something more deliberate.

And one never knows!🕵️‍♀️