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" Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him to be the one to counsel caution. "
Donald Rumsfeld
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" I don't do quagmires. "
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" In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it. "
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" Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost. "
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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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" 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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" With the press there is no 'off the record.' "
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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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" If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence. "
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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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" 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. "
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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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" Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up. "
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" If in doubt, move decisions up to the President. "
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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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" Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well. "
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" Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up. "
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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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" Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction. "
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" When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views. "
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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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" There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know. "
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" Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist. "
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" Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, 'Well, where's the smoking gun?' Well, we don't want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction. "
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" I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that. "
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" Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.' "
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" If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" One of your tasks is to separate the 'personal' from the 'substantive.' The two can become confused, especially if someone rubs the President wrong. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue. "
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" Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning. "
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