When did the term lobbyist become popular?

The art of lobbying politicians is as old as the Republic. In fact, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to, in its words, petition the government for a redress of grievances. [29]The term lobbyist became popular in the early to mid 19th century when people seeking influence or favors from lawmakers would wait in corridors, reception rooms, and even hotel lobbies in hopes of a chance meeting to make their case. [30]But there is often a fine line between lobbying and bribery, and federal prosecutors say former high-profile lobbyist Jack Abramoff crossed that line numerous times. U.S. Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher detailed what she described as Abramoff’s extensive corruption scheme at a Justice Department news conference.