Strive to make proposed solutions as self-executing as possible. As the degree of discretion increases, so too does bureaucracy, delay, and expense.
When it comes to reconstruction, before we turn to the American taxpayer, we will turn first to the resources of the Iraqi government and the international community.
Don’t accept the post or stay unless you have an understanding with the President that you’re free to tell him what you think “with the bark off” and you have the courage to do it.
Find ways to decentralize. Move decision making authority down and out. Encourage a more entrepreneurial approach.
I am going to leave the future of Europe to the Europeans.
Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don’t be consumed by the job or you’ll risk losing your balance. Keep your mooring lines to the outside world – family, friends, neighbors, people out of government, and people who may not agree with you.
Inspectors do not have the duty or the ability to uncover terrible weapons hidden in a vast country. The responsibility of inspectors is simply to confirm evidence of voluntary and total disarmament. Saddam Hussein has the responsibility to provide that evidence, as directed, and in full.
Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the President’s.
Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and accountability their direction.
Don’t divide the world into “them” and “us.”
Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President’s office may perpetuate inaccurate impressions about you or the President, to his detriment. After all, you may not be as bad as they’re saying.
If a person is determined to fight to the death, then they may very well have that opportunity.
The success of an organization will depend on the people you surround yourself with.
Well, so be it. Nothing’s perfect in life, so you have an election that’s not quite perfect. Is it better than not having an election? You bet.
Watch the growth of middle level management. Don’t automatically fill vacant jobs. Leave some positions unfilled for 6-8 months to see what happens. You will find you won’t need to fill some of them.
When someone with a rural accent says, “I don’t know much about politics,” zip up your pockets.
From where you sit, the White House may look as untidy as the inside of a stomach. As is said of the legislative process, sausage-making and policy-making shouldn’t be seen close-up. Don’t let that panic you. Things may be going better than they look from the inside.
If you look ahead 10 years, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the people of Russia had become fans of missile defence.
One of your tasks is to separate the ‘personal’ from the ‘substantive.’ The two can become confused, especially if someone rubs the President wrong.
I don’t believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.