“Eisenhower's military life taught him that talent was a necessary but not sufficient condition for success. The only way to guarantee smart decisions, Ike believed, was to bring all the responsible parties together and have them fight it out. "I… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“We want you to succeed," the younger Bush told Obama. "Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we all care deeply about this country...All of us… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“The phone would ring, and they would put their son on speakerphone. Ever sensitive to charges of puppeteering, Mrs. Bush let it known that certain restrictions were observed. "The rules are: no repeating what he tells you and no giving unsolicited advice and no passing on things that people ask you to give the President...gifts or advice or ideas or… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share
“The elder Bush explained later that "watching your son taking a pounding from his critics was much, much harder" than being president. "Barbara quit… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“Presidents, even when they get some things right, never cease to be punch lines, and it was telling that Nixon regarded his comic potential… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“Presidents rise and fall according to how they handle a crisis - an invasion, a depression, a massive oil spill - but there's no… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“The club is bound together by an unspoken pledge to protect the presidency; but its members are often driven by an even more fierce… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“If the club creates a natural bond among its members, something of that sympathy extends to their families as well. The first ladies share… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“It was a classic Nixon move: goad an opponent into attacking, then ride a wave of sympathy s you defend your honour.” — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“But Eisenhower's advice was consistent, from his days as a general, to his years in the White House, to his role as veteran counselor:… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“By this time the Vietnam War was such a confusing issue to most Americans that Nixon could take as many positions as he liked… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“Talbott understood that Nixon's private hospitality and his public obsession with U.S.-Russian relations were part of an elaborate rehabilitation scheme, designed to blur lingering… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
“..., but he gave Clinton a tip: when seeking advice from people who are more experienced than you, Nixon urged, tell them what you… — Nancy Gibbs; Michael Duffy Copy Share Image
