If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

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...

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...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

With the press there is no off the record.

With the press there is no off the record.

Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.

Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.

The way to do well is to do well.

The way to do well is to do well.

The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.

The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the...

See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered...

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If...

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...

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

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

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

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries...

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.

Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying...

Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying...

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known...

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known...

You're thinking of Eurpoe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.

You're thinking of Eurpoe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.

Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page...

Don't do or say things you would not like to see on the front page...