Willard Hotel and the origin story of 'lobbyist'

The popular origin story for the term 'lobbyist' holds that political petitioners waited in the Willard Hotel lobby during President Ulysses S. Grant’s administration to seek influence, leading to the use of the term for such petitioners. Contemporary newspapers and later retellings repeat the anecdote, and the Willard became associated with political visitors in the 19th century. Linguists and etymologists note earlier British uses of 'lobby' and consider the Willard story a debated origin that remains part of Washington folklore.