Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House.
Don’t be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.
Make decisions about the President’s personal security. He can overrule you, but don’t ask him to be the one to counsel caution.
The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.
First rule of politics: you can’t win unless you’re on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win.
Don’t think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.
Members of the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are not there by accident. Each managed to get there for some reason. Learn what it was and you will know something important about them, about our country and about the American people.
In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.
The way to do well is to do well.
I can’t tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won’t last any longer than that.
Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers – they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.
Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs.
Don’t divide the world into “them” and “us.” Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as facts. They have their jobs and you have yours.
It isn’t making mistakes that’s critical; it’s correcting them and getting on with the principal task.
Don’t say “the White House wants.” Buildings can’t want.
Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to carry it off.
Don’t automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn’t considered key aspects of the issue.
There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that’s just a fact.
Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos.
Public servants are paid to serve the American people. Do it well.
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