--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had no difficulty as Secretary of…" description: "\"I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.\" — Robert M. Gates" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/robert-m-gates-2972_administration_i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defe_288227.png" --- # I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from… ![“I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.” quote by Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/robert-m-gates-2972_administration_i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defe_288227.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/robert-m-gates-2972_administration_i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defe_288227.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/515/robert-m-gates-2972_administration_i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defe_288227.png) > “I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.” [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Transition between administrations can be smooth when professional expertise outweighs political affiliation. **In simple terms:** Changing jobs is easier with skill and experience. Key Takeaway Leverage expertise to bridge political divides. Themes leadership politics continuity Mood analytical thoughtful Type political leadership When to use this quote - government transitions - policy implementation - inter‑agency cooperation Key Concepts bureaucracy nonpartisanship institutional memory Questions to Reflect On - What skills helped you adapt across administrations? - How can institutions maintain stability amid political change? A Different Perspective Political shifts may still bring ideological conflicts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/administration/) [Bush administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-administration/) [Obama administration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obama-administration/) ## Related quotes > [ I have to say, early on, to be fair, in the \[Barack\] Obama administration, the Obama White House said that Fox News was not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-have-to-say-early-on-to-be-fair-in-the-barack-obama-administration/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Even CEOs police their own bureaucracy. Trump is not that. He does have more in common with these guys than most elected officials would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/even-ceos-police-their-own-bureaucracy-trump-is-not-that-he-does-have/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's so many ways I can use my speed - on defense moving side to side, running the bases, stealing bases. It's all a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/there-s-so-many-ways-i-can-use-my-speed-on-defense-moving-side-to/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) > [“The Obama administration submitted a budget request to Congress in 2012 that called for cutting in half U.S. funds for Israeli missile defense—this at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-ralph/the-obama-administration-submitted-a-budget-request-to-congress-in/) [Reed Ralph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-ralph/) > [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/) > [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/) > [It's rare in an administration for a secretary of state and a secretary of defense to get along really well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brooks/it-s-rare-in-an-administration-for-a-secretary-of-state-and-a/) [David Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brooks/) > [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/) > [ 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/) > [At the beginning of his administration, Obama homed right in on Medicare, which he wanted to fix by reducing the overall cost of health…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-collins/at-the-beginning-of-his-administration-obama-homed-right-in-on/) [Gail Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-collins/) > [I read in the press, and therefore it must be true, that no secretary of defense had ever been quoted as arguing for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-read-in-the-press-and-therefore-it-must-be-true-that-no-secretary/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [ \[Barack\] Obama administration, the \[George W.\]Bush administration have done nothing. And as China has manipulated its currency, we've lost trillions of dollars of wealth… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-schumer/barack-obama-administration-the-george-w-bush-administration-have/) [Charles Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-schumer/) ## More by Robert M. Gates > [And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/and-so-the-greatest-of-american-triumphs-became-a-peculiarly-joyless/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“Obama answered, “Yes. I’m no peacenik.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/obama-answered-yes-i-m-no-peacenik/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“I was seething. I told him that “the clock is ticking” and that our patience with their lack of political progress was running out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-was-seething-i-told-him-that-the-clock-is-ticking-and-that-our/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Some people have said, in so many words, that I'm kind of wooly-headed in believing that the Iranians would see not having nuclear weapons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/some-people-have-said-in-so-many-words-that-i-m-kind-of-wooly-headed/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“Obama was the fourth president I had worked for who said outright that he wanted to eliminate all nuclear weapons (Carter, Reagan, and Bush…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/obama-was-the-fourth-president-i-had-worked-for-who-said-outright/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [I had no concerns - I had no reason to have concerns based on what was available to me about North's contacts with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-had-no-concerns-i-had-no-reason-to-have-concerns-based-on-what-was/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [Health care costs are eating the Defense Department alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/health-care-costs-are-eating-the-defense-department-alive/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“The passage of fourteen years had led to another significant change in the international environment. As I told Bush 43 and Condi Rice on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/the-passage-of-fourteen-years-had-led-to-another-significant-change/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [I've been very sensitive for a long time to the repeated pattern, during economic hard times or after a war, of the United States'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-ve-been-very-sensitive-for-a-long-time-to-the-repeated-pattern/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [I don't know General Michael Flynn well, but it's hard for me to believe anybody would allow themselves to be blackmailed by the Russians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-don-t-know-general-michael-flynn-well-but-it-s-hard-for-me-to/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [The United States has been a global power since late in the 19th century.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/the-united-states-has-been-a-global-power-since-late-in-the-19th/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [My one concern is that Hu Jintao may overestimate how much power China has in Pyongyang. They have - they do have influence, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/my-one-concern-is-that-hu-jintao-may-overestimate-how-much-power/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“I thought you were my friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-thought-you-were-my-friend/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [“Soon after the raid was over, the White House released the now-famous photo of all of us watching the video in that small conference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/soon-after-the-raid-was-over-the-white-house-released-the-now-famous/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) > [One of the big changes in the Congress since I first came to Washington is that all of these folks go home every weekend.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/one-of-the-big-changes-in-the-congress-since-i-first-came-to/) [Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) [Explore all 143 Robert M. Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) ## 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": "I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert M. 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