And he has his own--extensive--intelligence gathering network.

And he spent 50 years sober at parties where politicians were drunk.

And he's a strategic genius. Consider Sun Tzu, The Art of War quotes:

All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.

All warfare is based on deception. There is no place where espionage is not used. Offer the enemy bait to lure him. Anger may in time change to gladness; vexation may be succeeded by content. But a kingdom that has once been destroyed can never come again into being; nor can the dead ever be brought back to life.

Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.