--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I changed those things that were in…" description: "\"I changed those things that were in direct - my direct control. I mean, I - look, I'm proud of the fact that, with two weeks to go, we're probably the ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg" --- # I changed those things that were in direct - my direct… ![“I changed those things that were in direct - my direct control. I mean, I - look, I'm proud of the fact that, with two weeks to go, we're probably the first administration in modern history that hasn't had a major scandal in the White House.” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg) > “I changed those things that were in direct - my direct control. I mean, I - look, I'm proud of the fact that, with two weeks to go, we're probably the first administration in modern history that hasn't had a major scandal in the White House.” [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The administration avoided major scandals, reflecting disciplined leadership and ethical standards. **In simple terms:** No scandals show strong leadership. Key Takeaway Maintain ethical standards. Themes leadership ethics governance integrity Mood optimistic serious Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government - corporate - nonprofit - campaigns Key Concepts political science public administration Questions to Reflect On - How can transparency be sustained? - What safeguards prevent misconduct? A Different Perspective Scandals can still emerge unexpectedly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Changed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed/) [Changed Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changed-things-350929/) [Direct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/direct/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [History Hasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-hasn-293149/) [House](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/house/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Major Scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/major-scandal-3563093/) [Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/majors/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Modern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern/) [Modern history](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-history/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) [Scandal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scandal/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-weeks/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white/) [White house](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-house/) ## Related quotes > [We've got a major scandal with Clinton. 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Sue Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-sue-carter/) > [That we have some history together that hasn’t happened yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/that-we-have-some-history-together-that-hasn-t-happened-yet/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Just in general, any government throughout history hasn't really wanted its people to be educated, because then they couldn't control them as easily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/just-in-general-any-government-throughout-history-hasn-t-really/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [I think the tradition of well-written history hasn't been squashed out of the academic world as much in Britain as it has in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-hochschild/i-think-the-tradition-of-well-written-history-hasn-t-been-squashed/) [Adam Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-hochschild/) > [You'd like to think we're past certain things, the way we treat people. I thought we were at a time where you love your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-reid/you-d-like-to-think-we-re-past-certain-things-the-way-we-treat-people/) [Eric Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-reid/) > [The Sixties was a perfect storm of disaffection with political leaders trying to pass off the same old platitudes to maintain the status quo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-abdul-jabbar/the-sixties-was-a-perfect-storm-of-disaffection-with-political/) [Kareem Abdul-Jabbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kareem-abdul-jabbar/) > [I am trying to remember that things have certainly been crazier in human history and they may get crazier here and now, and \[here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-am-trying-to-remember-that-things-have-certainly-been-crazier-in/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [I don't understand why black people have been so quiescent, so passive over the hundreds of years of American history. Why hasn't there been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-edgar-wideman/i-don-t-understand-why-black-people-have-been-so-quiescent-so-passive/) [John Edgar Wideman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-edgar-wideman/) > [ I don't think there's anybody who's run a campaign like \[Donald Trump\] successfully in modern history, not that I can think of. And, as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-don-t-think-there-s-anybody-who-s-run-a-campaign-like-donald-trump/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president - with the possible exceptions of Johnson,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-would-put-our-legislative-and-foreign-policy-accomplishments-in-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [It's hard to anticipate. I can tell you what I'm feeling right now is that I'm busier than I expected these last two weeks.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-hard-to-anticipate-i-can-tell-you-what-i-m-feeling-right-now-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Third, we will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks. Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/third-we-will-continue-to-draw-on-our-substantial-counterterrorism/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I was watching a documentary that during the Bay of Pigs crisis JFK had about two weeks before anybody reported on it. Imagine that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-was-watching-a-documentary-that-during-the-bay-of-pigs-crisis-jfk/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [How has podcasting changed things? A lot of people ask me if I feel I should be more famous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-f-tompkins/how-has-podcasting-changed-things-a-lot-of-people-ask-me-if-i-feel-i/) [Paul F. Tompkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-f-tompkins/) > [There are lots of things about me that have changed. Some things are a process; some things take time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/there-are-lots-of-things-about-me-that-have-changed-some-things-are-a/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) ## More by Barack Obama > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of our democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-peaceful-transition-of-power-is-one-of-the-hallmarks-of-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As opposed to getting into arguments about, well, these folks have been treated fairly so now we're going to be doing things that, very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-opposed-to-getting-into-arguments-about-well-these-folks-have-been/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/donald-trump-is-temperamentally-unfit/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [What we've said to the girls is: 'If you guys ever decide that you're going to get a tattoo, then mommy and me will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/what-we-ve-said-to-the-girls-is-if-you-guys-ever-decide-that-you-re/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Nobody is listening to your telephone calls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/nobody-is-listening-to-your-telephone-calls/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [All of us take offense to anyone who reaps the rewards of living in America without taking on the responsibilities of living in America.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/all-of-us-take-offense-to-anyone-who-reaps-the-rewards-of-living-in/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The world is complicated and full of grays, but there's still truth there to be found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-world-is-complicated-and-full-of-grays-but-there-s-still-truth/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I can say across Europe that many principles that have been taken for granted here around free speech, and around civil liberties and an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-can-say-across-europe-that-many-principles-that-have-been-taken-for/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I want to thank the Greek people publicly for their humanitarian response to the crisis of so many migrants and refugees seeking safety in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-want-to-thank-the-greek-people-publicly-for-their-humanitarian/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We had a farewell dinner for some of my senior staff, and generally everybody likes to talk about how cool I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-had-a-farewell-dinner-for-some-of-my-senior-staff-and-generally/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ It's good to get fresh legs in \[the White house\]. I think that it refreshes our democracy. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/it-s-good-to-get-fresh-legs-in-the-white-house-i-think-that-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy, it is part of what makes us exceptional, part of what makes us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/believe-it-or-not-entertainment-is-part-of-our-american-diplomacy-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) [Explore all 3,624 Barack Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More Administration quotes > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [While the people retain their virtue and vigilance, no administration, by any extreme of wickedness or folly, can very seriously injure the government in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/while-the-people-retain-their-virtue-and-vigilance-no-administration/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [If you want to serve in a Trump administration, you're going to serve this country, not yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-spicer/if-you-want-to-serve-in-a-trump-administration-you-re-going-to-serve/) [Sean Spicer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-spicer/) > [Listen, I have a great affection and respect for Joe Biden. I think he's been a great vice president. He's taken on a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-axelrod/listen-i-have-a-great-affection-and-respect-for-joe-biden-i-think-he/) [David Axelrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-axelrod/) > [I don't believe anyone that I know in the administration ever said that Iraq had nuclear weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/i-don-t-believe-anyone-that-i-know-in-the-administration-ever-said/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [What was unique about me being in City Hall during the Giuliani Administration, I was the only one who wasn't an attorney. I may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-lhota/what-was-unique-about-me-being-in-city-hall-during-the-giuliani/) [Joe Lhota](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-lhota/) > [The Trump administration launched the cruise missile strikes in Syria, an act of war, without a U.N. resolution or Congressional authorization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-bergen/the-trump-administration-launched-the-cruise-missile-strikes-in-syria/) [Peter Bergen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-bergen/) > [The only way I'll ever run a marathon is if I'm involved in the administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-phillips/the-only-way-i-ll-ever-run-a-marathon-is-if-i-m-involved-in-the/) [Sally Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-phillips/) > [Obama spent the first two years of his administration practicing political unilateral disarmament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/obama-spent-the-first-two-years-of-his-administration-practicing/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) > [The actions of the University in my case make it abundantly clear that the Administration's rhetoric about Harvard's desire to attract and retain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-geller/the-actions-of-the-university-in-my-case-make-it-abundantly-clear/) [Margaret Geller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-geller/) > [In mid-May, the House of Representatives approved the full amount of money that the Veterans Administration said was needed for next year - plus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doc-hastings/in-mid-may-the-house-of-representatives-approved-the-full-amount-of/) [Doc Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doc-hastings/) > [In 1953, the United States played a significant role in orchestrating the overthrow of Iran's popular prime minister, Mohammed Mossadegh. The Eisenhower administration believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/in-1953-the-united-states-played-a-significant-role-in-orchestrating/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [The administration of George W. Bush, emboldened by the Sept. 11 attacks and the backing of a Republican Congress, has sought to further extend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-feldman/the-administration-of-george-w-bush-emboldened-by-the-sept-11-attacks/) [Noah Feldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-feldman/) > [When we criticize in Iran the actions of the government, the fundamentalists say that we and the Bush Administration are in the same camp.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirin-ebadi/when-we-criticize-in-iran-the-actions-of-the-government-the/) [Shirin Ebadi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirin-ebadi/) > [We will finally complete the biometric entry-exit visa tracking system, which we need desperately. For years Congress has required biometric entry-exit visa tracking systems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-will-finally-complete-the-biometric-entry-exit-visa-tracking/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) [Browse all 1,855 Administration quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I changed those things that were in direct - my direct control. I mean, I - look, I'm proud of the fact that, with two weeks to go, we're probably the first administration in modern history that hasn't had a major scandal in the White House.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Barack Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-direct-my-direct-control-i-mean-i/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Administration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-direct-my-direct-control-i-mean-i/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f4/barack-obama-17_administration_i-changed-those-things-that-were-in-dire_2007003.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I changed those things that were in direct - my direct control. 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