--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Look, I was there when we did that with…" description: "\"Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983. I was one of eight people sitting in the room that included Tip O'Neill negotiating wi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joe-biden-454_negotiating_look-i-was-there-when-we-did-that-with-s_530652.jpg" --- # Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in… ![“Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983. I was one of eight people sitting in the room that included Tip O'Neill negotiating with President Reagan. We all got together and everybody said, as long as everybody's in the deal, everybody's in the deal, and everybody is making…” quote by Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joe-biden-454_negotiating_look-i-was-there-when-we-did-that-with-s_530652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joe-biden-454_negotiating_look-i-was-there-when-we-did-that-with-s_530652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eda/joe-biden-454_negotiating_look-i-was-there-when-we-did-that-with-s_530652.jpg) > “Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983. I was one of eight people sitting in the room that included Tip O'Neill negotiating with President Reagan. We all got together and everybody said, as long as everybody's in the deal, everybody's in the deal, and everybody is making some sacrifice, we can find a way.” [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Collaboration requires shared sacrifice and inclusive agreements to achieve collective solutions **In simple terms:** Working together means everyone gives something for the common good Key Takeaway Seek inclusive compromise Themes cooperation compromise policy leadership Mood determined hopeful Type political inspirational When to use this quote - government reform - social security legislation - bipartisan meetings - public budgeting Key Concepts collective bargaining public policy negotiation tactics Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are you willing to make for a shared goal? - How can you ensure all voices are heard in negotiations? A Different Perspective Success depends on trust and willingness to sacrifice; not all parties may share equal power ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deal Everybody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deal-everybody-1087522/) [Everybody Deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/everybody-deal-4074082/) [Negotiating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiating/) [Negotiating President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiating-president-4459023/) [Negotiation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiation/) [Neill Negotiating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neill-negotiating-4459024/) [President reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-reagan/) [Social security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-security/) ## Related quotes > [I think what you have to recognise is everybody has their own deal, and everybody has challenges. Do I think that it was easier…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-brooke/i-think-what-you-have-to-recognise-is-everybody-has-their-own-deal/) [Beth Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-brooke/) > [The idea of negotiating with the President of the United States runs contrary to everything that the Republicans have done since January 20, 2009.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-olbermann/the-idea-of-negotiating-with-the-president-of-the-united-states-runs/) [Keith Olbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-olbermann/) > [“That’s how it worked in theory, but in reality nearly everybody was in on the deal and got a little piece of the pie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-brandt/that-s-how-it-worked-in-theory-but-in-reality-nearly-everybody-was-in/) [Charles Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-brandt/) > [Instead of bringing it back and putting the money to work, because they can't work out a deal to - and everybody agrees it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/instead-of-bringing-it-back-and-putting-the-money-to-work-because/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Everybody has terrible things that they deal with. Everybody. Just because you're some big shot rock star doesn't mean you're immune to having these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/everybody-has-terrible-things-that-they-deal-with-everybody-just/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [If you don't have one thing, what's the big deal? Not everybody has everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neena-gupta/if-you-don-t-have-one-thing-what-s-the-big-deal-not-everybody-has/) [Neena Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neena-gupta/) > [I'm interested in anything that can provide a reasonable Brexit deal that everybody can live with and everybody can see some merit in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-boles/i-m-interested-in-anything-that-can-provide-a-reasonable-brexit-deal/) [Nick Boles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-boles/) > [Everybody wants to get the MITB contract; that usually means at some point they will become champion. That's a big deal; that's what everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/everybody-wants-to-get-the-mitb-contract-that-usually-means-at-some/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [I think the universe is so big you can't really deal with everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-think-the-universe-is-so-big-you-can-t-really-deal-with-everybody/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [Everybody should have a fair deal; everybody should have the chance to life in this world. If we were evolved as human beings, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/everybody-should-have-a-fair-deal-everybody-should-have-the-chance-to/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [President Reagan is a lot like E.T. He's cute, he's lovable, and he knows nothing about how Americans live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elayne-boosler/president-reagan-is-a-lot-like-e-t-he-s-cute-he-s-lovable-and-he/) [Elayne Boosler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elayne-boosler/) > [President Reagan has no enemies in the Phillipines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-marcos/president-reagan-has-no-enemies-in-the-phillipines/) [Ferdinand Marcos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-marcos/) > [A Masai warrior on a cellphone in the middle of Kenya has better mobile comm than President Reagan did 25 years ago.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-diamandis/a-masai-warrior-on-a-cellphone-in-the-middle-of-kenya-has-better/) [Peter Diamandis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-diamandis/) > [We all obviously need others to look up to, and be inspirational to us. Ford did a great job as far as putting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-garvey/we-all-obviously-need-others-to-look-up-to-and-be-inspirational-to-us/) [Steve Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-garvey/) > [If I could go, I would tell the truth to the North American people. President Reagan personally ordered my visa to be denied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tomas-borge/if-i-could-go-i-would-tell-the-truth-to-the-north-american-people/) [Tomas Borge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tomas-borge/) ## More by Joe Biden > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I always kid the president in different circumstances. Mr. President, a country's never going to be more optimistic than the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-always-kid-the-president-in-different-circumstances-mr-president-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [Don't hold against me that I don't own - that I don't own a single stock or bond. Don't hold it - I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/don-t-hold-against-me-that-i-don-t-own-that-i-don-t-own-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“True bravery is when there is very little chance of winning, but you keep fighting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/true-bravery-is-when-there-is-very-little-chance-of-winning-but-you/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [No public funding for abortion; it imposes a view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/no-public-funding-for-abortion-it-imposes-a-view/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I've known and continue to know every one of these major world leaders by their first names, and I have access to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-ve-known-and-continue-to-know-every-one-of-these-major-world/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We are working to deploy a powerful new radar network with American early warning systems,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-are-working-to-deploy-a-powerful-new-radar-network-with-american/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I'm joking, I'm joking. Best decision I ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-m-joking-i-m-joking-best-decision-i-ever-made/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [ Somalis have made my city of Wilmington, Delaware, \[their home\] on a smaller scale. There is a large, very identifiable Somali community, i might… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/somalis-have-made-my-city-of-wilmington-delaware-their-home-on-a/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“And don’t any of you, by the way, any of you guys vote Republican. I’m not supposed to say, this isn’t political. …don’t come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/and-don-t-any-of-you-by-the-way-any-of-you-guys-vote-republican-i-m/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [We also wanted to change the story - change the approach to the 21st century on energy, on education, on transportation, on infrastructure, generally,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/we-also-wanted-to-change-the-story-change-the-approach-to-the-21st/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The spirit of Thanksgiving rests in our recognizing the blessings in our lives, and as we all take stock, I hope you will join…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-spirit-of-thanksgiving-rests-in-our-recognizing-the-blessings-in/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The president has a big stick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/the-president-has-a-big-stick/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) [Explore all 546 Joe Biden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) ## More Negotiating quotes > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-t-flynn/) > [Donald Trump so far is sending a signal that he's going to run the government like his business and maybe that's going to work.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-o-reilly/donald-trump-so-far-is-sending-a-signal-that-he-s-going-to-run-the/) [Bill O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-o-reilly/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [Beyond that is the fear that the United States will end up negotiating and agreeing to a deal with Iran. The Israelis do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trita-parsi/beyond-that-is-the-fear-that-the-united-states-will-end-up/) [Trita Parsi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trita-parsi/) > [The vote on the Peacekeeper is also a vote on Geneva. Rejecting the Peacekeeper will knock the legs out from under the negotiating table.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-vote-on-the-peacekeeper-is-also-a-vote-on-geneva-rejecting-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Sanctions alone could not stop Iran's nuclear program. But they did help bring Iran to the negotiating table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/sanctions-alone-could-not-stop-iran-s-nuclear-program-but-they-did/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As a mother of four, I feel like I've naturally learned the negotiating skills to bring some win-win results.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/as-a-mother-of-four-i-feel-like-i-ve-naturally-learned-the/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [Never fall in love with something when you're negotiating a price. Never decide you're going to buy something because you can't live without it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-harrison/never-fall-in-love-with-something-when-you-re-negotiating-a-price/) [Rick Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-harrison/) > [We are in the process of negotiating an agreement with the United States. We will be negotiating agreements with India and China. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-in-the-process-of-negotiating-an-agreement-with-the-united/) [Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/) > [Why are we talking about talking? Why negotiating about negotiating? It's very simple. If you want to get to peace, put all your preconditions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-netanyahu/why-are-we-talking-about-talking-why-negotiating-about-negotiating-it/) [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-netanyahu/) > [The capability of negotiating... is something that means you not only have to understand fully what you believe and what your national interests are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-albright/the-capability-of-negotiating-is-something-that-means-you-not-only/) [Madeleine Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-albright/) > [Well, does he still have his fingernails? Making inquiries while negotiating the release of a US Army pilot from North Korea, in Time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-richardson/well-does-he-still-have-his-fingernails-making-inquiries-while/) [Bill Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-richardson/) > [My message to the world is that until we recognize that peace is not just the absence of war but the revival of life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zainab-salbi/my-message-to-the-world-is-that-until-we-recognize-that-peace-is-not/) [Zainab Salbi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zainab-salbi/) > [I've been arguing this for months. This is not our war. This is not a war we should be in. Australia's better spending its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hewson/i-ve-been-arguing-this-for-months-this-is-not-our-war-this-is-not-a/) [John Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hewson/) > [Feeding children is like working for the United Nations - getting reluctant parties to come to the table, negotiating, brokering deals. 'If you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-front/feeding-children-is-like-working-for-the-united-nations-getting/) [Rebecca Front](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-front/) [Browse all 197 Negotiating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/negotiating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Look, I was there when we did that with Social Security in 1983. I was one of eight people sitting in the room that included Tip O'Neill negotiating with President Reagan. 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