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I tend over the years to have developed a certain hesitancy about believing that headlines tell the whole story.

Donald Rumsfeld

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Donald Rumsfeld
Age: 88 †
Born: 1932
Born: July 9
Died: 2021
Died: June 29
Author
Businessperson
Diplomat
Former U.S. Secretary Of Defense
Military Officer
Politician
Chicago
Illinois
Donald Henry Rumsfeld
Whole
Headlines
Believe
Believing
Years
Developed
Tend
Story
Tell
Stories
Certain
Hesitancy

More quotes by Donald Rumsfeld

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If you look ahead 10 years, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the people of Russia had become fans of missile defence.
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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.
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And there is, I am certain, among the Iraqi people a respect for the care and the precision that went into the bombing campaign.
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I am not going to give you a number for it because it's not my business to do intelligent work.
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Most of the 50 or so invitations you receive each week come from people inviting the President's Chief of Staff, not you. If you doubt that, ask your predecessor how many he received last week.
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I don't know anybody that I can think of who has contended that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons.
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Being Vice President is difficult. Don't make it tougher.
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There are known knowns there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns - the ones we don't know we don't know.
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We do have a saying in America: if you're in a hole, stop digging ..... erm, I'm not sure I should have said that.
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Most US presidents since World War II have led military actions without a declaration of war by Congress, though most, if not all, have properly consulted and sought support from Congress. That is the wise thing to do.
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Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him to be the one to counsel caution.
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Well, so be it. Nothing's perfect in life, so you have an election that's not quite perfect. Is it better than not having an election? You bet.
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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.
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No. That's someone else's business. Quagmire is - I don't do quagmires.
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Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue.
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Keep your sense of humor. As General Joe Stillwell said, 'The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind'.
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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.
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It's a difficult thing today to be informed about our government even without all the secrecy.
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Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.
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Control your time. If you're working off your in-box, you're working off the priorities of others. Be sure the staff is working on what you move to them from the President, or the President will be reacting, not leading.
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