He's a novice, but he's had these - he's experienced in leadership in tight circumstances. He started - he dropped the first bomb, led the first air strike into North Vietnam.

Quote by James Stockdale

Topics: James Stockdale Quotes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

Half the issues they - are so polished they're talking about - are dead by...

Half the issues they - are so polished they're talking about - are dead by...

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...

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...

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...

In order to do something you must be something.

In order to do something you must be something.

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.

But there were highs as well as lows, it was as though they said everybody...

But there were highs as well as lows, it was as though they said everybody...

And we had our own laws. I mean, I wrote them. And we had our...

And we had our own laws. I mean, I wrote them. And we had our...

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...

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.

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...