--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most important aspect of the…" description: "\"The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.\" — Dean A..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg" --- # The most important aspect of the relationship between the… ![“The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.” quote by Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg) > “The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.” [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Emphasizes that both the president and secretary of state must recognize the president’s ultimate authority. **In simple terms:** Clear hierarchy is essential in U.S. foreign policy. Key Takeaway Respect the chain of command. Themes government leadership foreign policy Mood analytical serious Type political historical When to use this quote - diplomatic negotiations - crisis management - cabinet meetings Key Concepts Authority decision making constitutional roles Questions to Reflect On - How does this hierarchy affect diplomatic outcomes? - What checks prevent abuse of authority? A Different Perspective Power dynamics can cause tension if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [I have seen the president and Secretary Tillerson work together. They work very well together. They talk through things. And then they manage it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/i-have-seen-the-president-and-secretary-tillerson-work-together-they/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [ It's important to understand that the president \[Donald Trump\] is now entering a world of public service. He's going to be asking his own… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reince-priebus/it-s-important-to-understand-that-the-president-donald-trump-is-now/) [Reince Priebus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reince-priebus/) > [ As far as I understand, the president-elect of the United States \[Donald Trump\] is ready for such joint work. We do not know yet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/as-far-as-i-understand-the-president-elect-of-the-united-states/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [You know, one of the things I think you understand as president is you're held responsible for everything, but you don't always have control…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/you-know-one-of-the-things-i-think-you-understand-as-president-is-you/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [ \[The American President\] has to take all sorts of abuse from liars and demagogues.… The people can never understand why the President does not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/the-american-president-has-to-take-all-sorts-of-abuse-from-liars-and/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [I did not elect Rex Tillerson, I did not kill myself for a year. I have total faith in Donald Trump, and I'll repeat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-savage/i-did-not-elect-rex-tillerson-i-did-not-kill-myself-for-a-year-i-have/) [Michael Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-savage/) > [ I think the hardest part \[is\] the priorities. There are an awful lot of things to do \[being Secretary of State\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-think-the-hardest-part-is-the-priorities-there-are-an-awful-lot-of/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I loved being Secretary of State, that's probably evident to everyone who watched me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/i-loved-being-secretary-of-state-that-s-probably-evident-to-everyone/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [I do not go lightly. If I could have anything right now, it would be the ability to continue as secretary of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-shelley/i-do-not-go-lightly-if-i-could-have-anything-right-now-it-would-be/) [Kevin Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-shelley/) > [I would not have imagined being asked to be Secretary of State, it was a great honor to serve with President Obama in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-would-not-have-imagined-being-asked-to-be-secretary-of-state-it-was/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [I was the Secretary of State of New Jersey in November 2000. I paid careful attention to the challenges that stemmed from inadequate voting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deforest-soaries/i-was-the-secretary-of-state-of-new-jersey-in-november-2000-i-paid/) [DeForest Soaries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deforest-soaries/) > [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 Dean Acheson > [How could the USA champion individual freedom in the world generally while denying it to an important minority in its own country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/how-could-the-usa-champion-individual-freedom-in-the-world-generally/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The test for aid to poor nations is therefore whether it makes them capable of being productive. If it fails to do so, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-test-for-aid-to-poor-nations-is-therefore-whether-it-makes-them/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [To leave positions of great responsibility and authority is to die a little, but the time comes when that must be faced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/to-leave-positions-of-great-responsibility-and-authority-is-to-die-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Between 9 and 10 AM the American radio is concerned almost exclusively with love. It seems a little like ending breakfast with a stiff bourbon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/between-9-and-10-am-the-american-radio-is-concerned-almost/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [It is worse than immoral, it's a mistake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/it-is-worse-than-immoral-it-s-a-mistake/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Great Britain has lost an Empire and has not yet found a role.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/great-britain-has-lost-an-empire-and-has-not-yet-found-a-role/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The Iraqi is really not whacky toady, perhaps, even tacky. When they gave him the word, he gave us the bird and joined with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-iraqi-is-really-not-whacky-toady-perhaps-even-tacky-when-they/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [If we learn the art of yielding what must be yielded to the changing present, we can save the best of the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/if-we-learn-the-art-of-yielding-what-must-be-yielded-to-the-changing/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Negotiating in the classic diplomatic sense assumes parties more anxious to agree than to disagree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/negotiating-in-the-classic-diplomatic-sense-assumes-parties-more/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Washington is like a self-sealing tank on a military aircraft. When a bullet passes through, it closes up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/washington-is-like-a-self-sealing-tank-on-a-military-aircraft-when-a/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [A memorandum is written not to inform the reader but to protect the writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/a-memorandum-is-written-not-to-inform-the-reader-but-to-protect-the/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [Americans assume Canada to be bestowed as a right and accept this bounty, as they do air, without thought or appreciation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/americans-assume-canada-to-be-bestowed-as-a-right-and-accept-this/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I learned from the example of my father that the manner in which one endures what must be endured is more important than the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-learned-from-the-example-of-my-father-that-the-manner-in-which-one/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [The trouble with a free market economy is that it requires so many policemen to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-trouble-with-a-free-market-economy-is-that-it-requires-so-many/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) > [I think Churchill is right, the only thing to be said for democracy is that there is nothing else that's any better, and therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/i-think-churchill-is-right-the-only-thing-to-be-said-for-democracy-is/) [Dean Acheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) [Explore all 46 Dean Acheson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/) ## More Aspect quotes > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [It is according to the shapes that I lay the plans for victory, but the multitude does not comprehend this. Although everyone can see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/it-is-according-to-the-shapes-that-i-lay-the-plans-for-victory-but/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [I believe that simple, consistent shifts in our thinking and actions can lead to the miraculous in all aspects of our daily lives, including…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-believe-that-simple-consistent-shifts-in-our-thinking-and-actions/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [There is so much temptation to hold on to my career even more now. To try to micromanage and dictate every little aspect. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-lin/there-is-so-much-temptation-to-hold-on-to-my-career-even-more-now-to/) [Jeremy Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-lin/) > [I do miss the social aspect of sitting in a pub with a pint but you know what when I get down to it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-do-miss-the-social-aspect-of-sitting-in-a-pub-with-a-pint-but-you/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [Some say that you should not want money at all because the desire for money is materialistic and not Spiritual. But we want you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/some-say-that-you-should-not-want-money-at-all-because-the-desire-for/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [Death is but an aspect of life, and the destruction of one material form is but a prelude to building up of another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/death-is-but-an-aspect-of-life-and-the-destruction-of-one-material/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would call myself a Gnostic. Which means, I'm interested in pursuing and understanding the spiritual nature of things. A Gnostic is somebody seeking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crumb/i-would-call-myself-a-gnostic-which-means-i-m-interested-in-pursuing/) [Robert Crumb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crumb/) > [One can be a great artist without being a great technician. There have been many famous ballet stars who did not have the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-bujones/one-can-be-a-great-artist-without-being-a-great-technician-there-have/) Fernando Bujones > [I love fall because I love the whole cuddling aspect of it, and a sweater dress has that vibe of I'm going to hunker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-love-fall-because-i-love-the-whole-cuddling-aspect-of-it-and-a/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [The socially redeeming aspect of golf lies in the vast number of lawyers and bankers and managers who play it, and when you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrison-keillor/the-socially-redeeming-aspect-of-golf-lies-in-the-vast-number-of/) [Garrison Keillor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrison-keillor/) > [I didnt like the Survivor shows because of the mean-spirited aspect, and women certainly were part of whatever conflict they would create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-lawrence/i-didnt-like-the-survivor-shows-because-of-the-mean-spirited-aspect/) [Sharon Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-lawrence/) > [MAC allowed me to have complete freedom on the collaborations—from the shades, the look-and-feel, to the campaign visuals. I have to admit that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-treacy/mac-allowed-me-to-have-complete-freedom-on-the-collaborations-from/) [Philip Treacy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-treacy/) > [I mean family is more important than anything in life. Family is important than my crew, D-Block, my rap career anything... It's the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/styles-p/i-mean-family-is-more-important-than-anything-in-life-family-is/) [Styles P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/styles-p/) > [Wealth is measured by the level of experience in all aspects of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/wealth-is-measured-by-the-level-of-experience-in-all-aspects-of-life/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) Browse all 3,171 Aspect quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dean Acheson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relationship-between-the-president/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aspect" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relationship-between-the-president/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/71c/dean-acheson-14457_aspect_the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relatio_3144812.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they…” — Dean Acheson", "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": "Dean Acheson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-acheson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most important aspect of the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relationship-between-the-president/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-acheson/the-most-important-aspect-of-the-relationship-between-the-president/#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 } } ] } ```