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" Remember where you came from. "
Donald Rumsfeld
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" Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer. "
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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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" 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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" When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control. "
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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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" 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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" Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals. "
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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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" 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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" 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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" 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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" 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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" 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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" 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're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe. "
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" There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact. "
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" One of your tasks is to separate the 'personal' from the 'substantive.' The two can become confused, especially if someone rubs the President wrong. "
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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. "
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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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" 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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" 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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" Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers. "
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" Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" If you develop rules, never have more than ten. "
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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" Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective. "
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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. "
Donald Rumsfeld
" In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone. "
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" In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it. "
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" With the press there is no 'off the record.' "
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