There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
Donald Rumsfeld
If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much.
Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.
If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right.
It is easier to get into something than to get out of it.
If it were a fact, it wouldn't be called intelligence.
Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning.
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.
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.
There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact.
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.
Test ideas in the marketplace. You learn from hearing a range of perspectives. Consultation helps engender the support decisions need to be successfully implemented.
Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, 'Well, where's the smoking gun?' Well, we don't want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction.
Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership.
Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn't exist.
Enjoy your time in public service. It may well be one of the most interesting and challenging times of your life.
Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to 'carry it off.'
Remember where you came from.
Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers.
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.
Don't speak ill of your predecessors or successors. You didn't walk in their shoes.
Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up.
Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.
When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.
Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost.
If you develop rules, never have more than ten.
I don't do quagmires.
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.
Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there.
See that the President, the Cabinet and staff are informed. If cut out of the information flow, their decisions may be poor, not made, or not confidently or persuasively implemented.
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.
You're thinking of Europe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe.
Treat each federal dollar as if it was hard earned; it was - by a taxpayer.
Prune - prune businesses, products, activities, people. Do it annually.
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.
Learn to say 'I don't know.' If used when appropriate, it will be often.
Death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.
If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't 'sail' anyway. Send it back for further thought.
Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive.
Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men.
Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance.
Don't say 'the White House wants.' Buildings can't want.
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.
In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone.
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.
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.
The way to do well is to do well.
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.
Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.
In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it.
