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: Donald Rumsfeld Quotes

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner,...

Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner,...

If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.

Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps...

Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of...

Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll...

Have a deputy and develop a successor. Don't be consumed by the job or you'll...

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...

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...

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...

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...

There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's...

There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's...

Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.

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...

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and...

Move decisions out to the Cabinet and agencies. Strengthen them by moving responsibility, authority, and...

Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People...

Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People...

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

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

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.