Clark got on the "political officer" track in the 1970s, under Ford, when he went from west point poli sci academic to the OMB. He spent a long time getting from major to colonel, finally ending up in training commands. He ran the NTC under Bush the elder, which is the position he became a general to fill. After three years doing that he got command of the US 1st cav - after gulf war I. Which was being switched from a heavy army main force. He stayed there under Clinton. His Clinton era specifically political role started with Dayton (negotiating with the Serbs), and then southern command and Panama (pulling out), finally Kosovo.
What did all of these various institutions and superiors get out of him? Why did none of them ever sidetrack him? Is political brownosing still the way ahead in our armed forces? It would be naive to think there aren't a dozen others like him still serving...