Talking and diplomacy is often seen as a concession in America, in a way that it is not in other places. — Ben Rhodes America Copy Share Image
Our Cuba policy was a major obstacle to getting things done in the hemisphere and a source of tension around the world. — Ben Rhodes Around the world Copy Share Image
We are proud of the role our military plays in Japan: defending our allies, ensuring regional peace and stability, and responding to… — Ben Rhodes Allies Copy Share Image
What I do miss is foreign travel, because there really is no substitute for showing up somewhere and representing the United States. — Ben Rhodes Copy Share Image
Where civil society thrives, governments operate with more transparency and accountability. This creates a tangible impact on the lives of everyday citizens. — Ben Rhodes Accountability Copy Share Image
Where civil society is welcomed, communities are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous. — Ben Rhodes Civil society Copy Share Image
For more than fifty years, our policy towards Cuba was not making life better for Cubans. In many ways, it was making… — Ben Rhodes Copy Share Image
The Catholic Church played an integral role in supporting the opening between the U.S. and Cuban governments. — Ben Rhodes Catholic Copy Share Image
No matter what people may think about American foreign policy, there is broad and overwhelming interest in engaging with the United States… — Ben Rhodes America Copy Share Image
I profoundly do not believe that the United States could make things better in Syria by being there. And we have an… — Ben Rhodes Being Copy Share Image
The fact that there were discreet channels of communication established with Iran in 2012 is something that we confirmed publicly. However, we… — Ben Rhodes Communication Copy Share Image
While President Obama raised the hopes of Americans and Cubans alike with a forward-looking opening in diplomatic, commercial and people-to-people ties, President… — Ben Rhodes Clock Copy Share Image
With the 5-to-4 decision upholding Trump's Muslim ban, arbitrary discrimination is now formal U.S. policy, celebrated by a president who campaigned on… — Ben Rhodes Decision Copy Share Image
The fact of the matter is the West Wing never gets fully renovated because nobody wants to vacate it. And so you… — Ben Rhodes Being Copy Share Image
For many Americans, 'Vietnam' is a word associated with war and the extraordinarily complex history between our countries. But since normalization began,… — Ben Rhodes Being Copy Share Image
There is no question that our security and prosperity will be increasingly tied to the Asia Pacific. If America doesn't set the… — Ben Rhodes America Copy Share Image
In addition to deep divisions on issues such as trade, climate change, Middle East peace and nuclear weapons, Trump's attacks on leaders… — Ben Rhodes Change Copy Share Image
What's interesting about the foreign policy establishment critique is, you know, I think the Blob and I have more in common in… — Ben Rhodes Foreign policy Copy Share Image
Any country must establish control over its borders. That is essential to sovereignty and the security of our citizens. But America, at… — Ben Rhodes Appreciation Copy Share Image
Our basic assessment was that if America keeps going down these rabbit holes in the Middle East, we're just going to put… — Ben Rhodes America Copy Share Image
In the Arab Spring, that obviously came to a head in Syria. I found myself arguing for intervention, mainly just because I… — Ben Rhodes Arab spring Copy Share Image
For more than fifty years, the United States pursued a policy of isolating and pressuring Cuba. While the policy was rooted in… — Ben Rhodes Cold Copy Share Image
We've supported the development of Cuba's private sector. This is a human rights issue - people should have the right to live… — Ben Rhodes Control Copy Share Image
Following one of the most violent conflicts in human history, the United States and Japan built a deep and abiding friendship -… — Ben Rhodes Economic growth Copy Share Image
Irrespective of our foreign policies, for decades, other nations and peoples could see, in the United States, a strong democracy that could… — Ben Rhodes Democracy Copy Share Image
When I first went to work in the West Wing, the most daunting thing was how small this place was... You walk… — Ben Rhodes Copy Share Image
One of the things you learn in government is there's a long tail to American decision-making when it comes to foreign policy.… — Ben Rhodes Foreign policy Copy Share Image
I think one of the critiques of me is that I thought I knew it all. But I was learning from the… — Ben Rhodes Government Copy Share Image
President Obama started in public life not as an elected official but as a community organizer. He worked with churches and other… — Ben Rhodes Change Copy Share Image
In China, you just don't have the space for civil society and independent discourse and free media that you do in India.… — Ben Rhodes China Copy Share Image
To be sure, the United States will be eternally proud of our civilian leaders and the men and women of our armed… — Ben Rhodes Armed forces Copy Share Image
President Obama has made the Asia Pacific region a focus of his foreign policy, and Vietnam - a large, growing economy in… — Ben Rhodes Focus Copy Share Image
I found people I really wanted to work for; I made myself available to do whatever I could with the skills I… — Ben Rhodes Advice Copy Share Image
There's this constant narrative of anxieties: Is the U.S. in decline? Is China rising? People forget... no other country is trying to… — Ben Rhodes Country Copy Share Image
All over the world, independent and strong civil society - NGOs, faith leaders, and other community advocates - help governments solve problems… — Ben Rhodes Civil society Copy Share Image
We have enormous interests in the Asia Pacific. In addition to our economy, we need to secure our allies, protect our environment,… — Ben Rhodes Asia Copy Share Image
After the separation of children from families seeking to join the United States was embraced as the official policy of our government,… — Ben Rhodes America Copy Share Image
There are very few things I've ever been a part of that I believe in more than the Iran deal, and everything… — Ben Rhodes Copy Share Image
By heralding President Xi Jinping's accession to permanent leadership, soliciting Vladimir Putin's reentry into the Group of Seven, and declaring that Kim… — Ben Rhodes Behavior Copy Share Image
The events of my twenties felt historic, but the people involved did not. I wanted a hero - someone who could make… — Ben Rhodes Events Copy Share Image
