Machiavellian
Rasputin
Svengali
VIP
access
bad influence
behind-the-scenes operator
big wheel
court
eminence grise
finagler
five-percenter
friend at court
gamesman
good influence
gray eminence
heavyweight
hidden hand
influence
influence peddler
influencer
ingroup
key
lobby
lobbyist
logroller
lords of creation
machinator
man of influence
manipulator
open sesame
operator
pork-barrel politician
powers that be
pressure group
sinister influence
special interests
special-interest group
strategist
the Establishment
very important person
wheeler-dealer
wire-puller
important person
influential person
national leader
personage
solon
statesman
churchwarden
cofounder
depredator
illuminati
stoat
vice-presidents