---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The president, by virtue of his office…"
description: "\"The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go dark' when it comes to conversations with foreign leaders, even if he makes promises or assuranc..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg"
---

#  The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go…

![“The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go dark' when it comes to conversations with foreign leaders, even if he makes promises or assurances that run contrary to the interests of the United States or even place the country in danger.” quote by Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg)

> “The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go dark' when it comes to conversations with foreign leaders, even if he makes promises or assurances that run contrary to the interests of the United States or even place the country in danger.”

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Leaders can avoid accountability in foreign talks, making promises that conflict with national interests and risking danger.

**In simple terms:** Leaders may ignore responsibilities in foreign talks.

Key Takeaway

Demand transparency and accountability.

Themes

politics accountability foreign policy

Mood

cautious critical

Type

analytical concerned

When to use this quote

- diplomatic negotiations
- policy making
- public statements
- government meetings

Key Concepts

ethics risk management leadership

Questions to Reflect On

- What mechanisms ensure leader accountability?
- How can citizens influence foreign policy?

A Different Perspective

Complex geopolitics may limit simple solutions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Danger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/danger/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Leadership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leadership/)

## Related quotes

> [On foreign affairs, we've already begun enormously productive talks with many foreign leaders, much of it you've covered, to move forward toward stability, security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/on-foreign-affairs-we-ve-already-begun-enormously-productive-talks/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [Donald Trump is having foreign leaders spend their money and our government spend their money on his properties. This is not the president of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robby-mook/donald-trump-is-having-foreign-leaders-spend-their-money-and-our/)

[Robby Mook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robby-mook/)

> [I think I would have a very good relationship with many foreign leaders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-think-i-would-have-a-very-good-relationship-with-many-foreign/)

[Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/)

> [John Kerry says that foreign leaders want him to be president, but that he can't name the foreign leaders. That's all right, President Bush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/john-kerry-says-that-foreign-leaders-want-him-to-be-president-but/)

[David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/)

> [Trump has always talked about how important in dealing with foreign leaders, how important it is to establish a good personal relationship very close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/trump-has-always-talked-about-how-important-in-dealing-with-foreign/)

[Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/)

> [Bill Clinton, who, to his credit, has established a clear and consistent foreign policy, which is as follows: Whenever the president of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/bill-clinton-who-to-his-credit-has-established-a-clear-and-consistent/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [I've met foreign leaders who can't go out and say this publicly, but boy, they look at you and say, you've got to win…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-ve-met-foreign-leaders-who-can-t-go-out-and-say-this-publicly-but/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [Sarah Palin has already had an effect on foreign relations... The new president of Pakistan, Ali Zardari, is in hot water, because last week,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/sarah-palin-has-already-had-an-effect-on-foreign-relations-the-new/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [Foreign leaders across the world have treated the coronavirus as an opportunity for unprecedented power grabs. China and South Korea track their citizens digitally.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mollie-hemingway/foreign-leaders-across-the-world-have-treated-the-coronavirus-as-an/)

[Mollie Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mollie-hemingway/)

> [“The foreign leaders with whom Nixon got along best, like President Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan of Pakistan, were almost always authoritarian strongmen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-kurlantzick/the-foreign-leaders-with-whom-nixon-got-along-best-like-president/)

Joshua Kurlantzick

> [One of Trump's vulnerabilities is that he doesn't always vet his people, whether it's business partners, the dubious characters he retweets, or the foreign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-foer/one-of-trump-s-vulnerabilities-is-that-he-doesn-t-always-vet-his/)

[Franklin Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-foer/)

> [In foreign countries, when people see what Donald Trump is saying on Twitter since the election and seeing what he's saying in these calls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-dyer/in-foreign-countries-when-people-see-what-donald-trump-is-saying-on/)

[Geoff Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-dyer/)

> [“Life makes two promises, one, it promises to be good, and two, it promises to be bad. Cherish the good and be strong during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meena-sarine/life-makes-two-promises-one-it-promises-to-be-good-and-two-it/)

Meena Sarine

> [“From Orient Point The art of living isn't hard to muster: Enjoy the hour, not what it might portend. When someone makes you promises,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/from-orient-point-the-art-of-living-isn-t-hard-to-muster-enjoy-the/)

[Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/)

> [Never makes promises when you're happy and never make decisions when you're too angry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/never-makes-promises-when-you-re-happy-and-never-make-decisions-when/)

[Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/)

## More by Asha Rangappa

> [I know firsthand from my experience working counterintelligence investigations for the FBI that kicking a diplomat out of the country is no small thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-know-firsthand-from-my-experience-working-counterintelligence/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [The idea of dual sovereignty rests on the premise that the power of the states to prosecute crimes existed before the creation of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-idea-of-dual-sovereignty-rests-on-the-premise-that-the-power-of/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [I mean, the FBI has to assure people who come and help them that they're going to be able to keep their identities confidential…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-mean-the-fbi-has-to-assure-people-who-come-and-help-them-that-they/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [Facebook's greatest strength - its ability to identify and connect like-minded people - is also a major vulnerability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/facebook-s-greatest-strength-its-ability-to-identify-and-connect-like/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [I know firsthand that it's difficult to get a FISA warrant. From 2002 to 2005, when I was an F.B.I. agent conducting counterintelligence investigations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-know-firsthand-that-it-s-difficult-to-get-a-fisa-warrant-from-2002/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [Reflexive control is a 'uniquely Russian' technique of psychological manipulation through disinformation. The idea is to feed your adversary a set of assumptions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/reflexive-control-is-a-uniquely-russian-technique-of-psychological/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [I was a pretty unsavvy applicant, and I am grateful that the dean of admissions at Princeton chose to take a chance on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-was-a-pretty-unsavvy-applicant-and-i-am-grateful-that-the-dean-of/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [I'm a process person. Process is a manifestation of values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/i-m-a-process-person-process-is-a-manifestation-of-values/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [There's no law preventing a journalist from publishing whatever they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/there-s-no-law-preventing-a-journalist-from-publishing-whatever-they/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [It's no surprise that whether by blocking visas or building walls, there are parts of the country desperate to hang on to a vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/it-s-no-surprise-that-whether-by-blocking-visas-or-building-walls/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [For wealthy or privileged students, applying to Ivy League schools or elite schools is sort of expected of them. If you go to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/for-wealthy-or-privileged-students-applying-to-ivy-league-schools-or/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [Field offices are evaluated in part based on their success in following through on leads and making cases that result in arrests and convictions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/field-offices-are-evaluated-in-part-based-on-their-success-in/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [The uniqueness of executive clemency lies in the president's power to act without weighing guilt, innocence and legal principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-uniqueness-of-executive-clemency-lies-in-the-president-s-power-to/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [When it comes to the Russia investigation, President Trump would be wise to review Scandal 101: Plausible deniability is your friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/when-it-comes-to-the-russia-investigation-president-trump-would-be/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

> [In the end, granting mercy comes down to just two people. For the recipient, the pardon is freedom. For the politician, the pardon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/in-the-end-granting-mercy-comes-down-to-just-two-people-for-the/)

[Asha Rangappa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

[Explore all 67 Asha Rangappa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/)

## More Communication quotes

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The problem posed by indirect speech acts is the problem of how it is possible for the speaker to say one thing and mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searle/the-problem-posed-by-indirect-speech-acts-is-the-problem-of-how-it-is/)

[John Searle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searle/)

> [We should have a conversation when we hang up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-cumberbatch/we-should-have-a-conversation-when-we-hang-up/)

[Benedict Cumberbatch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-cumberbatch/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [A poet is wounded into speech, and he examines these wounds, meticulously, to discover how to heal them. The bad poet harangues at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-r-delany/a-poet-is-wounded-into-speech-and-he-examines-these-wounds/)

[Samuel R. Delany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-r-delany/)

> [“To engage in dialogue is to serve others via whatever is real inside you; to engage in debate is to ultimately serve the illusions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oli-anderson/to-engage-in-dialogue-is-to-serve-others-via-whatever-is-real-inside/)

[Oli Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oli-anderson/)

> [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/)

[Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/)

> [In dialogue, there is opposition, yes, but no head-on collision. Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/)

[Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/)

> [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/)

[Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/)

> [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. I've been in a public bathroom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-reddy/i-ve-been-in-a-serious-conversation-with-one-of-my-children-and-a-fan/)

[Helen Reddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-reddy/)

> [Life as we know it is fundamentally unsatisfying. I think most folks feel this to be true. They know that a life of aimless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-yates/life-as-we-know-it-is-fundamentally-unsatisfying-i-think-most-folks/)

[Michael Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-yates/)

> [Disability, in general, hasn't been included in the conversation about inclusivity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-winston-george/disability-in-general-hasn-t-been-included-in-the-conversation-about/)

[Jason Winston George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-winston-george/)

> [“Women will be at least 50 percent of the communications community workforce … from executive suite to interns. Why? The “integrated” agency will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoram-wind/women-will-be-at-least-50-percent-of-the-communications-community/)

Yoram Wind

> [There are certain things you must not say in spite of the fact that supposedly democracy means free speech. No. You are not allowed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/there-are-certain-things-you-must-not-say-in-spite-of-the-fact-that/)

[Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/)

[Browse all 21,506 Communication quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go dark' when it comes to conversations with foreign leaders, even if he makes promises or assurances that run contrary to the interests of the United States or even place the country in danger.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Asha Rangappa"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-can-easily-go-dark-when-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Communication"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-can-easily-go-dark-when-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e11/asha-rangappa-10145_communication_the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-ca_2938184.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The president, by virtue of his office, can easily 'go dark' when it comes to conversations with foreign…” — Asha Rangappa",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Asha Rangappa",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asha-rangappa/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The president, by virtue of his...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-can-easily-go-dark-when-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asha-rangappa/the-president-by-virtue-of-his-office-can-easily-go-dark-when-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
