The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it can better be handled privately, by voluntary organizations, or by local or state governments.

Quote by Donald Rumsfeld

Topics: Government Quotes

In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade....

In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade....

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

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

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...

In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact...

In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact...

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or...

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or...

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate...

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate...

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed...

Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed...

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

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

Remember where you came from.

Remember where you came from.

Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you...

Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you...

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...

I don't do quagmires.

I don't do quagmires.

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When...

Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When...

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

If you develop rules, never have more than ten.

Learn to say I don't know. If used when appropriate, it will be often.

Learn to say I don't know. If used when appropriate, it will be often.

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

If you try to please everybody, somebody's not going to like it.

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...

Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of...

Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of...

I will not lay down and put this narrow, stubborn agenda ahead of our families,...

I will not lay down and put this narrow, stubborn agenda ahead of our families,...

The Constitution guarantees us our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That's...

The Constitution guarantees us our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. That's...

DELEGATION, n. In American politics, an article of merchandise that comes in sets.

DELEGATION, n. In American politics, an article of merchandise that comes in sets.

I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Partys candidate for...

I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Partys candidate for...