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" With the press there is no 'off the record.' "
Donald Rumsfeld
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" If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence. "
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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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" Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective. "
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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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" 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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" 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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" 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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" Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what it was and you will know something important about them, about our country and about the American people. "
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" Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page of The Washington Post. "
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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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" It is easier to get into something than to get out of it. "
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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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" 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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" Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men. "
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" If you develop rules, never have more than ten. "
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