--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's rare in an administration for a…" description: "\"It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.\" — David Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png" --- # It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state… ![“It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.” quote by David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png) > “It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.” [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Observes the uncommon harmony between two high‑ranking officials in government. **In simple terms:** Such cooperation is rare in politics. Key Takeaway Foster collaborative leadership. Themes politics leadership institutional dynamics Mood cautious optimistic Type analytical observational When to use this quote - policy development - inter‑agency projects - diplomacy - team building Key Concepts bipartisanship coordination Questions to Reflect On - What conditions enable such cooperation? - How can you promote it in your sphere? A Different Perspective May ignore systemic conflicts that hinder cooperation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Rare Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rare-administration-895129/) [Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary/) [Secretary Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary-defense-491701/) [Secretary State](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secretary-state/) [State Secretary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-secretary-895130/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [ I was not only the first woman to become secretary of state, I was the first \[U.S.\] secretary of state of the 21st century.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-was-not-only-the-first-woman-to-become-secretary-of-state-i-was-the/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defense-moving-from-the-bush/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Personally, I think Mitt Romney would be a great secretary of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/personally-i-think-mitt-romney-would-be-a-great-secretary-of-state/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [ I've said this before and I'm very proud of it, that when it comes to judgment, having run a hard race against Senator \[Barack\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-ve-said-this-before-and-i-m-very-proud-of-it-that-when-it-comes-to/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I find it disturbing that no member of the Senate Armed Services Committee is willing to acknowledge that record of failure and to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-find-it-disturbing-that-no-member-of-the-senate-armed-services/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) > [As a former secretary of defense, I think Donald Rumsfeld is the best secretary of defense the United States has ever had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-cheney/as-a-former-secretary-of-defense-i-think-donald-rumsfeld-is-the-best/) [Dick Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-cheney/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/the-secretary-of-defense-is-not-a-super-general-or-admiral-his-task/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [In fact, in 2002, the Secretary of Defense authorized such support on a reimbursable basis to organizations formerly components of the Department of Justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/in-fact-in-2002-the-secretary-of-defense-authorized-such-support-on-a/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [You know, one thing I've learned over 40 years is that when you have jobs in Washington, you do it day by day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/you-know-one-thing-i-ve-learned-over-40-years-is-that-when-you-have/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Certainly, we shouldn't go about making a habit of taking generals and making them secretary of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-r-mansoor/certainly-we-shouldn-t-go-about-making-a-habit-of-taking-generals-and/) [Peter R. Mansoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-r-mansoor/) > [ We've learned something about President-elect \[Donald\] Trump's choice for secretary of defense. Lawmakers in Congress intend to proper debate over whether retired General James… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/we-ve-learned-something-about-president-elect-donald-trump-s-choice/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [I thought Colin Powell did a fine job as secretary of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-thought-colin-powell-did-a-fine-job-as-secretary-of-state/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Everything I did as secretary of state was in furtherance of America's interests and our values.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/everything-i-did-as-secretary-of-state-was-in-furtherance-of-america/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [As secretary of state you can go out in a helmet if you want to. Even in Switzerland in front of reporters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/as-secretary-of-state-you-can-go-out-in-a-helmet-if-you-want-to-even/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [The State Department is infested with communists. I have here in my hand a list of 205—a list of names that were made known…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccarthy/the-state-department-is-infested-with-communists-i-have-here-in-my/) [Joseph McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccarthy/) ## More by David Brooks > [The brain is not the mind. It is probably impossible to look at a map of brain activity and predict or even understand the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/the-brain-is-not-the-mind-it-is-probably-impossible-to-look-at-a-map/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [When you're running for president, you're a guest in the living room for four years. And if people don't think you're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/when-you-re-running-for-president-you-re-a-guest-in-the-living-room/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“I’ve come to think that flourishing consists of putting yourself in situations in which you lose self-consciousness and become fused with other people, experiences,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-ve-come-to-think-that-flourishing-consists-of-putting-yourself-in/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [We have rapidly increasing technology, which is making life very good for people who are good at using words, and not so good for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/we-have-rapidly-increasing-technology-which-is-making-life-very-good/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I think Barack Obama's foreign policy will be regarded more failure than success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-think-barack-obama-s-foreign-policy-will-be-regarded-more-failure/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If you know that most processing is below the level of awareness, you learn the value of sleep. You're brain is working on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-you-know-that-most-processing-is-below-the-level-of-awareness-you/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Trade has suddenly become massively unpopular. I think that's massively unjust. I think free trade has been wonderful for America on balance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/trade-has-suddenly-become-massively-unpopular-i-think-that-s/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Politics is based on social identity, and so, again, there is going to be differences between rural and urban and between left and right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/politics-is-based-on-social-identity-and-so-again-there-is-going-to/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Pain now is better than pain deferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/pain-now-is-better-than-pain-deferred/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [It’s worth noting that you can devote your life to community service and be a total schmuck. You can spend your life on Wall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-worth-noting-that-you-can-devote-your-life-to-community-service/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [If it feels all right for you, it's probably OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/if-it-feels-all-right-for-you-it-s-probably-ok/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I do think Donald Trump is a fundamentally unstabilizing force and that the people who swore to uphold the Constitution are going to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-do-think-donald-trump-is-a-fundamentally-unstabilizing-force-and/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [Tim Kaine has been obviously a governor. He's been a senator. He's one of the smartest rising stars in the Democratic Party. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/tim-kaine-has-been-obviously-a-governor-he-s-been-a-senator-he-s-one/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [“Women, in general, are less visually aroused than men, a trait that has nearly cut the market for pornography in half.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/women-in-general-are-less-visually-aroused-than-men-a-trait-that-has/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/i-wasn-t-born-with-a-tie-or-with-mark-shields-stapled-to-my-left-hip/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) [Explore all 431 David Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) ## 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": "It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-secretary-of-state-and-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Administration" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-secretary-of-state-and-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d09/david-brooks-644_administration_it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-sec_865166.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.” — David Brooks", "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": "David Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's rare in an administration for...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-secretary-of-state-and-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-secretary-of-state-and-a/#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 } } ] } ```