When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.

The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.

The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential...

The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle...

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all...

Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all...

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead...

Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead...

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort...

If a person with a rural accent says 'I don't know much about politics,' zip...

If a person with a rural accent says 'I don't know much about politics,' zip...

Remember where you came from.

Remember where you came from.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes.

Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People...

Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People...

If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it...

If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it...

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction.

Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.

Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.

With the press there is no off the record.

With the press there is no off the record.

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...

Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to...