On the eighteenth of December 1972, when we thought we were getting another of the hundreds of little tactical air raids, we heard the bombs going in out there in the railroad yards and this went on for about thirty…

Quote by James Stockdale

Topics: James Stockdale Quotes

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....

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

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

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...

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'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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

I think character is permanent, and issues are transient.

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...