3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Presidential leadership needn’t always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be responsible. Give them authority and hold them accountable. Trying to do too much yourself creates a bottleneck.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Leave the President’s family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying to manage the First Family. They are likely to do fine without your help.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Don’t necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld In our system leadership is by consent, not command. To lead a President must persuade. Personal contacts and experiences help shape his thinking. They can be critical to his persuasiveness and thus to his leadership.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Let your family, staff, and friends know that you’re still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld 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.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld 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.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to ‘carry it off.’
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don’t tell him the truth. Others won’t do it.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin’s still learning.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Imagine, a September 11 with weapons of mass destruction. It’s not 3,000. It’s tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld 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.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
3 December 2020 Donald Rumsfeld 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.
