Half the issues they - are so polished they're talking about - are dead by the time they get into the office, and into the midst of their tour where they're really productive.

Quote by James Stockdale

Topics: James Stockdale Quotes

There was nothing there but black water and American fire power.

There was nothing there but black water and American fire power.

I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, FA Crusaders.

I was commanding officer of a supersonic fighter squadron, FA Crusaders.

This idea, as you know, that I have firm convictions that the idea of issues...

This idea, as you know, that I have firm convictions that the idea of issues...

On the eighteenth of December 1972, when we thought we were getting another of the...

On the eighteenth of December 1972, when we thought we were getting another of the...

The guy that just arranges things so that the stock market holds up is nobody...

The guy that just arranges things so that the stock market holds up is nobody...

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

In order to do something you must be something.

In order to do something you must be something.

Well, first of all, I was asked by Ross Perot on a telephone call in...

Well, first of all, I was asked by Ross Perot on a telephone call in...

We couldn't generalize on the people. Some of them were known to be tough guys...

We couldn't generalize on the people. Some of them were known to be tough guys...

So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time...

So the first thing that went on was to decide... trying to find a time...

I'm a grown man. You know, I've been in a lot of scrapes, but I...

I'm a grown man. You know, I've been in a lot of scrapes, but I...

Sybil's my wife, and on the first day of October, that's the first time I...

Sybil's my wife, and on the first day of October, that's the first time I...

They can shout down the head of the physics department at Cal Tech.

They can shout down the head of the physics department at Cal Tech.

I never had a single conversation about politics with Ross Perot in my life; still...

I never had a single conversation about politics with Ross Perot in my life; still...

They were heading out to the middle of the bay - the Gulf - that's...

They were heading out to the middle of the bay - the Gulf - that's...

He's a novice, but he's had these - he's experienced in leadership in tight circumstances....

He's a novice, but he's had these - he's experienced in leadership in tight circumstances....

Yeah. I mean, it just seemed to me that it was - I felt so...

Yeah. I mean, it just seemed to me that it was - I felt so...

I was tortured fifteen times, that's total submission. They did that with shutting off your...

I was tortured fifteen times, that's total submission. They did that with shutting off your...

And so, I mean, he declared war right there and then in so many words...

And so, I mean, he declared war right there and then in so many words...

I mean, I didn't - I should have demanded attention of the boss maybe, or...

I mean, I didn't - I should have demanded attention of the boss maybe, or...