In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.
Author
Donald Rumsfeld
24 quotations
About Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld was an American politician, businessman, naval officer, and diplomat who served as the 13th United States secretary of defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and again as the 21st secretary of defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He was both the youngest and the oldest secretary of defense. Additionally, Rumsfeld was a four-term U.S. Congressman from Illinois (1963–1969), director of the Office of Economic Opportunity (1969–1970), couns…
Read on Wikipedia → Find books by Donald RumsfeldAmidst 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.
Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It's not 3,000. It's tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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.
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 t…
Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.'
In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
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Politics is human beings it's addition rather than subtraction.
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.
Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
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.
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.
Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus …
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.
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…
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.
Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
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.
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 count…
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.