--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Then there was an exchange that’s been…" description: "\"“Then there was an exchange that’s been seared into my memory. Joe Biden said he had argued for a different approach and was ready to move forward, but..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/robert-m-gates-2972_different-approach_then-there-was-an-exchange-that-s-been-s_2374639.jpg" --- # Then there was an exchange that’s been seared into my… ![“Then there was an exchange that’s been seared into my memory. Joe Biden said he had argued for a different approach and was ready to move forward, but the military “should consider the president’s decision as an order.” “I am giving an order,” Obama” quote by Robert M. Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/robert-m-gates-2972_different-approach_then-there-was-an-exchange-that-s-been-s_2374639.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/robert-m-gates-2972_different-approach_then-there-was-an-exchange-that-s-been-s_2374639.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbc/robert-m-gates-2972_different-approach_then-there-was-an-exchange-that-s-been-s_2374639.jpg) > ““Then there was an exchange that’s been seared into my memory. Joe Biden said he had argued for a different approach and was ready to move forward, but the military “should consider the president’s decision as an order.” “I am giving an order,” Obama”” [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. The quote highlights tension between civilian leadership and military obedience, emphasizing the president’s authority in decision‑making. **In simple terms:** Civilian leaders must be obeyed by the military. Key Takeaway Uphold civilian control of the armed forces. Themes civil‑military relations leadership authority policy democracy Mood reflective serious Type political strategic When to use this quote - national security decision making - presidential directives - military compliance Key Concepts command hierarchy constitutional law political accountability Questions to Reflect On - How should leaders balance authority with counsel? - When is dissent appropriate? A Different Perspective Military may resist if orders conflict with professional judgment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biden Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biden-said-553656/) [Different approach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/different-approach/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joe-biden/) [Military Consider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/military-consider-5859918/) [Move forward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/move-forward/) [Order Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order-obama-5859917/) [President Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-decision-1224760/) [Said Argued](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-argued-4123644/) ## Related quotes > [“I wished I had told her what I was doing. I wished I had said more, argued more. Maybe then I wouldn't have this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/i-wished-i-had-told-her-what-i-was-doing-i-wished-i-had-said-more/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [Joe Biden went to Brazil in an effort to try and repair America's relationship with their government. Biden said, 'It's great to be here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/joe-biden-went-to-brazil-in-an-effort-to-try-and-repair-america-s/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [Yesterday on CNN, Joe Biden said he hasn't made up his mind about whether he'll run for president in 2016. Which raises the question:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/yesterday-on-cnn-joe-biden-said-he-hasn-t-made-up-his-mind-about/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [President Biden again said he owed 'no apologies' for the aftermath of withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan. Many Americans and our allies beg to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-kim/president-biden-again-said-he-owed-no-apologies-for-the-aftermath-of/) [Young Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/young-kim/) > [This week Biden said that he will decide on a potential 2016 presidential campaign by the spring or the summer. Then he said, 'Whichever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/this-week-biden-said-that-he-will-decide-on-a-potential-2016/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [Vice President Joe Biden said today that 'Syria must be held accountable.' Unfortunately, the Obama administration has never employed an accountant, so they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/vice-president-joe-biden-said-today-that-syria-must-be-held/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [An attorney general's duty is to render her opinion and honest advice; she cannot set herself up as a judge overruling the president's decision.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-barr/an-attorney-general-s-duty-is-to-render-her-opinion-and-honest-advice/) [William Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-barr/) > [I think it was the right decision to disarm Saddam Hussein. And when the president made the decision, I supported him, and I support…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-think-it-was-the-right-decision-to-disarm-saddam-hussein-and-when/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britney-spears/honestly-i-think-we-should-just-trust-our-president-in-every-decision/) [Britney Spears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britney-spears/) > [I think the President's decision to withdraw the United States, to keep a campaign promise in Iraq, without leaving a stay-behind force was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrasso/i-think-the-president-s-decision-to-withdraw-the-united-states-to/) [John Barrasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrasso/) > [Under our Constitution, military leaders have no choice but to endorse the president's decision after giving him their best advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kagan/under-our-constitution-military-leaders-have-no-choice-but-to-endorse/) [Robert Kagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kagan/) > [I do not necessarily support the president's decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxine-waters/i-do-not-necessarily-support-the-president-s-decision/) [Maxine Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxine-waters/) > [While I was not consulted prior to the President's decision to intervene in support of the Republic of Korea, that decision from a military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/while-i-was-not-consulted-prior-to-the-president-s-decision-to/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [The president's decision yesterday to set into motion the development of the hydrogen bomb... has placed us on the knife-edge of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-president-s-decision-yesterday-to-set-into-motion-the-development/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We had to give each other permission to be different as parents. That's why there's a mom and a dad with two different approaches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgette-wilson/we-had-to-give-each-other-permission-to-be-different-as-parents-that/) [Bridgette Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgette-wilson/) ## 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/) > [I had no difficulty as Secretary of Defense moving from the Bush administration to the Obama administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-gates/i-had-no-difficulty-as-secretary-of-defense-moving-from-the-bush/) [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/) [Explore all 143 Robert M. Gates quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-gates/) ## More Different approach quotes > [We had to give each other permission to be different as parents. That's why there's a mom and a dad with two different approaches,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bridgette-wilson/we-had-to-give-each-other-permission-to-be-different-as-parents-that/) [Bridgette Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bridgette-wilson/) > [Success isn't ideal for every child. If we think a child would do better in a different school, whether it's a specialized program or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-moskowitz/success-isn-t-ideal-for-every-child-if-we-think-a-child-would-do/) [Eva Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-moskowitz/) > [It takes a great deal of humility to recognize you have made a wrong turn on the road to successful innovation, but better to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-d-anthony/it-takes-a-great-deal-of-humility-to-recognize-you-have-made-a-wrong/) [Scott D. Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-d-anthony/) > ['Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali' is a film with a very different approach and we are sure the audience will love to see Salman in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sajid-nadiadwala/kabhi-eid-kabhi-diwali-is-a-film-with-a-very-different-approach-and/) [Sajid Nadiadwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sajid-nadiadwala/) > [If anybody,wants to get rid of us, then this is a different approach. However, we will get over it; you never know who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/if-anybody-wants-to-get-rid-of-us-then-this-is-a-different-approach/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [“The associative machinery seeks causes. The difficulty we have with statistical regularities is that they call for a different approach. Instead of focusing on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/the-associative-machinery-seeks-causes-the-difficulty-we-have-with/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [The distraction, particularly of technology, impedes the innovative process. And when you add to that the distraction of working with colleagues who are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/the-distraction-particularly-of-technology-impedes-the-innovative/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [I really admire artists that are willing to take a different approach and a different angle to their shows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shania-twain/i-really-admire-artists-that-are-willing-to-take-a-different-approach/) [Shania Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shania-twain/) > [I've always been a big fan of taking old songs and completely turning them on their head. Having no adherence to the fine tradition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bonamassa/i-ve-always-been-a-big-fan-of-taking-old-songs-and-completely-turning/) [Joe Bonamassa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bonamassa/) > [“The Queen is controlling, the Witch is sadistic, the Hermit is fearful, and the Waif is helpless. And each requires a different approach. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-ann-lawson/the-queen-is-controlling-the-witch-is-sadistic-the-hermit-is-fearful/) [Christine Ann Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-ann-lawson/) > [Sometimes I'm doing a big movie, or sometimes I'm doing a TV show, but as an actor, it's almost the same thing for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroyuki-sanada/sometimes-i-m-doing-a-big-movie-or-sometimes-i-m-doing-a-tv-show-but/) [Hiroyuki Sanada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroyuki-sanada/) > [“Charles Du designed NASA’s first iPhone app, an award winner and a huge hit with more than 10 million downloads. But he also faced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-de-haaff/charles-du-designed-nasa-s-first-iphone-app-an-award-winner-and-a/) [Brian de Haaff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-de-haaff/) > [I've wanted to do it for years, but every attempt at it has turned into another tune. 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