Barack Quote by Evan Osnos
“When we remember presidents who didn't fulfill their promises - for instance George H.W. Bush saying no new taxes or Barack Obama saying he would close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay - we remember those because they're the exceptions, not the rule.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Foreign Policy, 2020 – analysis of political promises
The quote argues that broken presidential promises are remembered as exceptions, suggesting that most leaders fulfill their commitments.
In simple terms: Failed promises stand out, making success seem common.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that most promises are kept.
Themes
politics
trust
leadership
accountability
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- election cycles
- policy evaluation
- media analysis
- public trust
Key Concepts
promise fulfillment
public perception
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we focus on broken promises?
- How does selective memory affect political trust?
A Different Perspective
Not all promises are broken; context matters.
![“I see in [George H. W.] Bush a striving to be Reagan-like in the sense of having a big vision, and eschewing small details.” quote by David E. Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/db3/david-e-hoffman-43835_bigs_i-see-in-george-h-w-bush-a-striving-to-b_2809498.jpg)
![“[On George H.W. Bush:] By 1990 I had learned that I had to defer to him in conversation and not to stint the praise. If that was what was necessary to secure Britain's interests and influence, I had no hesitation in eating a little humble pie.” quote by Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f96/margaret-thatcher-463_britain_on-george-h-w-bush-by-1990-i-had-learned_2727664.jpg)
![“[On George H.W. Bush vs. Michael Dukakis:] Americans now know they can vote for a man who can't express his thoughts or a man who can't express his feelings.” quote by Mary McGrory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f3a/mary-mcgrory-28645_feelings_on-george-h-w-bush-vs-michael-dukakis-am_2068130.jpg)
![“If [Hillary] Clinton wins, history will also be made: She would be the first female U.S. president, of course, but also the only candidate in the modern era, other than George H.W. Bush, who managed to follow a two-term president of her own party.” quote by Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/dc4/mara-liasson-8465_candidates_if-hillary-clinton-wins-history-will-als_977689.jpg)
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
![“The president [Barack Obama] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years. And we announced during the tour last week that we have gotten more than 60,000 jobs, and we're well on our way to just crashing that goal out of the…” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/83d/michelle-obama-518_barack_the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-c_15651.jpg)
![“I think the president's [Barack Obama] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the ground, in fact one of the Republican criticisms is he's got thousands of Americans there. We just don't call them troops on the ground, we don't admit to it. But…” quote by Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f9c/juan-williams-7909_aggressive_i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-pos_17086.jpg)
![“It cannot be an American fight. And I think what the president [Barack Obama] has consistently said - which I agree with - is that we will support those who take the fight to ISIS. That is why we have troops in Iraq that are helping to train and build back up the Iraqi military, why we have…” quote by Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f1e/hillary-clinton-51_agree_it-cannot-be-an-american-fight-and-i-thi_19737.jpg)
![“It wasn't [Barack] Obama per se; it was the feeling on the ground; it was seeing an old black woman in a wheelchair being wheeled by her son waving a big American flag, and then seeing a guy with his baby in his arms saying, "I didn't want her to miss tonight! I wanted to be able to tell her!" And…” quote by Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/806/bill-ayers-1848_able_it-wasn-t-barack-obama-per-se-it-was-the_20409.jpg)
