--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think that presidents deserve to be…" description: "\"I think that presidents deserve to be questioned. Maybe irreverently, most of the time. Bring 'em down a size. You see a president, ask a question. You..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/helen-thomas-7044_barrels_i-think-that-presidents-deserve-to-be-qu_2148851.jpg" --- # I think that presidents deserve to be questioned. Maybe… ![“I think that presidents deserve to be questioned. Maybe irreverently, most of the time. Bring 'em down a size. You see a president, ask a question. You have one chance in the barrel. Don't blow it.” quote by Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/helen-thomas-7044_barrels_i-think-that-presidents-deserve-to-be-qu_2148851.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/helen-thomas-7044_barrels_i-think-that-presidents-deserve-to-be-qu_2148851.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a61/helen-thomas-7044_barrels_i-think-that-presidents-deserve-to-be-qu_2148851.jpg) > “I think that presidents deserve to be questioned. Maybe irreverently, most of the time. Bring 'em down a size. You see a president, ask a question. You have one chance in the barrel. Don't blow it.” [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Presidents should be questioned, often irreverently; we have one chance, so don't waste it. **In simple terms:** Question presidents, even irreverently. Key Takeaway Ask bold questions when possible. Themes politics accountability questioning power media Mood assertive critical Type political journalistic When to use this quote - press conferences - political interviews - public accountability Key Concepts democratic discourse press freedom Questions to Reflect On - What is the line between scrutiny and disrespect? - How can journalists balance boldness with fairness? A Different Perspective Risk of disrespecting office. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ask A Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ask-a-question/) [Barrels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrels/) [Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blow/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve/) [Deserve Questioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deserve-questioned-4509806/) [Ems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ems/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Maybe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maybe/) [One chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-chance/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Ask](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-ask-2225811/) [Presidents Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presidents-deserve-4509805/) [Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question/) [Questioned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/questioned/) [Size](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/size/) [Think Presidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-presidents-2970629/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) ## Related quotes > [Dear Mr. President, can I ask you a question, when the bombs fall down will they hurt everyone in my family?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-mr-president-can-i-ask-you-a-question-when-the-bombs-fall-down/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [This president can ask us to be patient. This president can tell us it was someone elses fault. This president can tell us that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/this-president-can-ask-us-to-be-patient-this-president-can-tell-us-it/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [I think most presidents are amazed at the overwhelming responsibility they have when they enter office and the tremendous amount of work there is.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/i-think-most-presidents-are-amazed-at-the-overwhelming-responsibility/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [We cannot be spun, or at least we'd like to think that we cannot be. And the presidents who are trying to - too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beschloss/we-cannot-be-spun-or-at-least-we-d-like-to-think-that-we-cannot-be/) [Michael Beschloss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beschloss/) > [I think if the White House or the President want to say anything about our conversations or anything I tried to do to help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/i-think-if-the-white-house-or-the-president-want-to-say-anything/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [I think that presidents don't give up power that has accrued to them by the precedent of previous presidents. Even when they say they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/i-think-that-presidents-don-t-give-up-power-that-has-accrued-to-them/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [I think all presidents should have teenage girls before they become presidents. If you can handle those hormones, you can handle anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mila-kunis/i-think-all-presidents-should-have-teenage-girls-before-they-become/) [Mila Kunis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mila-kunis/) > [I think all presidents should take the long view of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-think-all-presidents-should-take-the-long-view-of-history/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [We don't think well of our presidents when they are serving. Even Kennedy, with such a short presidency, was beginning to lose his remarkable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlton-heston/we-don-t-think-well-of-our-presidents-when-they-are-serving-even/) [Charlton Heston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlton-heston/) > [ \[Gerald\] Ford and \[Jimmy\] Carter, in fact, were huge disappointments to me. Think about this: They were the presidents around the time of America's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/gerald-ford-and-jimmy-carter-in-fact-were-huge-disappointments-to-me/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [Through the darkness of future past, the magician longs to see, one chance out between two worlds, fire walk with me!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/through-the-darkness-of-future-past-the-magician-longs-to-see-one/) [David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/) > [You had only one chance for a signature in life, but most people left no impression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-wolitzer/you-had-only-one-chance-for-a-signature-in-life-but-most-people-left/) [Meg Wolitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-wolitzer/) > [Only one chance one bullet in the gun. This is my life and I only got one, yeah. The safety’s off and I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/only-one-chance-one-bullet-in-the-gun-this-is-my-life-and-i-only-got/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [You only get one chance of an England debut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-shearer/you-only-get-one-chance-of-an-england-debut/) [Alan Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-shearer/) > [This was just one night, one chance to vary and see where it took me. The fireflies were probably already out: maybe it wasn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/this-was-just-one-night-one-chance-to-vary-and-see-where-it-took-me/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) ## More by Helen Thomas > [I never thought about heaven per se. I think when you're dead, you're dead. If anything happens after that, you just hope you don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-never-thought-about-heaven-per-se-i-think-when-you-re-dead-you-re/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [President Bush has asserted the right to wiretap and eavesdrop on any American without a warrant in the name of fighting terrorism. He has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/president-bush-has-asserted-the-right-to-wiretap-and-eavesdrop-on-any/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm of Arab background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-of-arab-background/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Anybody who runs for public office today has got to know his life or her life will be an open book. I've decided that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-who-runs-for-public-office-today-has-got-to-know-his-life-or/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [There are better ways we can transform this virulent hatred - by living our ideals, the Peace Corps, exchange students, teachers, exporting our music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/there-are-better-ways-we-can-transform-this-virulent-hatred-by-living/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I think I'll work all my life. When you're having fun, why stop having fun?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-think-i-ll-work-all-my-life-when-you-re-having-fun-why-stop-having/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [American journalism's crazy old aunt in the attic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/american-journalism-s-crazy-old-aunt-in-the-attic/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Today, because of the immediacy of the live TV appearance with the direct quote, the presidency seems hamstrung with governing by polls and turning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/today-because-of-the-immediacy-of-the-live-tv-appearance-with-the/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [Maybe the Jefferson case will give members of Congress second thoughts the next time they get ready to legislate away the rights of ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/maybe-the-jefferson-case-will-give-members-of-congress-second/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I'm a liberal, I was born a liberal, I'll be one 'til I die, what else should a reporter be when you see so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-m-a-liberal-i-was-born-a-liberal-i-ll-be-one-til-i-die-what-else/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [If you want to be President, decide it at the age of five, and then live accordingly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/if-you-want-to-be-president-decide-it-at-the-age-of-five-and-then/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [We are the only institution in our society that can question a president on a regular basis and make him accountable. Otherwise, he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/we-are-the-only-institution-in-our-society-that-can-question-a/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [I had a lot of fun bantering back and forth with Kennedy. But for ease and comfort, it would be Gerald Ford. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/i-had-a-lot-of-fun-bantering-back-and-forth-with-kennedy-but-for-ease/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [“Anybody in public life is well aware of how important the judgments of the press are. I'm firmly convinced that if the good Lord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/anybody-in-public-life-is-well-aware-of-how-important-the-judgments/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) > [All presidents rail against the press. It goes with the turf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-thomas/all-presidents-rail-against-the-press-it-goes-with-the-turf/) [Helen Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) [Explore all 95 Helen Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-thomas/) ## More Barrels quotes > [It's good to find the barrel of the bat again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chase-utley/it-s-good-to-find-the-barrel-of-the-bat-again/) [Chase Utley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chase-utley/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) [Emmanuel des Essarts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-des-essarts/) > [You could pay a fair market price for a barrel of oil and cut 50 cents a barrel or a dollar barrel off what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-bolling/you-could-pay-a-fair-market-price-for-a-barrel-of-oil-and-cut-50/) [Eric Bolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-bolling/) > [ \[Norden\] said, with the Mark 15 Norden bombsight, he could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel at 20,000 feet. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-gladwell/norden-said-with-the-mark-15-norden-bombsight-he-could-drop-a-bomb/) [Malcolm Gladwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-gladwell/) > [When the landscape buckles and jerks around, when a dust column of debris rises from the collapse of a block of buildings on bodies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrienne-rich/when-the-landscape-buckles-and-jerks-around-when-a-dust-column-of/) [Adrienne Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrienne-rich/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In addition, each barrel of oil we save through conservation further decreases our dangerous reliance on unstable Middle East oil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-gillmor/in-addition-each-barrel-of-oil-we-save-through-conservation-further/) [Paul Gillmor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-gillmor/) > [Muzzle control has to be a religion. You cannot point that weapon at one of your brothers-or yourself. Know where you barrel is at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-couch/muzzle-control-has-to-be-a-religion-you-cannot-point-that-weapon-at/) [Dick Couch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-couch/) > [The defense budget is more than a piggy bank for people who want to get busy beating swords into pork barrels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-defense-budget-is-more-than-a-piggy-bank-for-people-who-want-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Today's political leaders demonstrate their low opinion of the public with every social law they pass. They believe that, if given the right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-skousen/today-s-political-leaders-demonstrate-their-low-opinion-of-the-public/) [Mark Skousen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-skousen/) > [Europe and North America, we are told, are less dependent on energy-intensive heavy industry than in the 1960s and 1970s. It seems we squeeze…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-buchan/europe-and-north-america-we-are-told-are-less-dependent-on-energy/) [James Buchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-buchan/) > [My silence is golden, I Dnt waste time on empty barrels, empty barrels make the most noise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sweetner/my-silence-is-golden-i-dnt-waste-time-on-empty-barrels-empty-barrels/) [Sweetner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sweetner/) > [The desert seems to be a brown wasteland of dry, prickly scrub whose only purpose is to serve as a setting for the majestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-spinelli/the-desert-seems-to-be-a-brown-wasteland-of-dry-prickly-scrub-whose/) [Jerry Spinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-spinelli/) > [To accept the principal that "all power proceeds from the barrel of a gun" is to accept a society which will be dominated by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-douglas/to-accept-the-principal-that-all-power-proceeds-from-the-barrel-of-a/) [Tommy Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-douglas/) > [You look tired," Rachel told Jason. "I wish I could jog and sleep at the same time." "Can't you?" Ferrin asked, joining them at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-mull/you-look-tired-rachel-told-jason-i-wish-i-could-jog-and-sleep-at-the/) [Brandon Mull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-mull/) [Browse all 277 Barrels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/barrels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think that presidents deserve to be questioned. Maybe irreverently, most of the time. Bring 'em down a size. You see a president, ask a question. You have one chance in the barrel. 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