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" Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there. "
Donald Rumsfeld
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" Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin's still learning. "
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" If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right. "
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" Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance. "
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" You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. "
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" Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems. "
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" Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life. "
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" The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it can better be handled privately, by voluntary organizations, or by local or state governments. "
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" If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence. "
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" Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal. "
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" Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position. "
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" First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win. "
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" Preserve the President's options. He may need them. "
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" Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary. "
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" Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers. "
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" Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House. "
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" You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be responsible. Give them authority and hold them accountable. Trying to do too much yourself creates a bottleneck. "
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" Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership. "
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" The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don't tell him the truth. Others won't do it. "
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" If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. "
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" If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't 'sail' anyway. Send it back for further thought. "
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" With the press there is no 'off the record.' "
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" Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war. "
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" The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country. "
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" In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it. "
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" In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone. "
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" It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task. "
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" Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying to manage the First Family. They are likely to do fine without your help. "
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" Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it. "
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" Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos. "
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