--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In 27 years of reporting from Washington…" description: "\"In 27 years of reporting from Washington, I've never heard a President admit he made a mistake.\" — Sam Donaldson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-donaldson-18372_failure_in-27-years-of-reporting-from-washington_2738636.png" --- # In 27 years of reporting from Washington, I've never heard… ![“In 27 years of reporting from Washington, I've never heard a President admit he made a mistake.” quote by Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-donaldson-18372_failure_in-27-years-of-reporting-from-washington_2738636.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-donaldson-18372_failure_in-27-years-of-reporting-from-washington_2738636.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bdb/sam-donaldson-18372_failure_in-27-years-of-reporting-from-washington_2738636.png) > “In 27 years of reporting from Washington, I've never heard a President admit he made a mistake.” [Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Presidents rarely admit mistakes, reflecting a reluctance to show vulnerability or accountability. **In simple terms:** Leaders avoid admitting errors. Key Takeaway Encourage accountability in leadership. Themes politics leadership accountability Mood skeptical thoughtful Type political reflective When to use this quote - government - media interviews - political analysis Key Concepts public perception leadership ethics Questions to Reflect On - What would change if leaders admitted errors? - How does denial impact public trust? A Different Perspective Admitting mistakes can be politically risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [27 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/27-years-511769/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard/) [Heard President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heard-president-238161/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Made a mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made-a-mistake/) [Mistake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mistake/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [President Admit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president-admit-3009980/) [Reporting Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reporting-washington-3009979/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) [Years Reporting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-reporting-3009981/) ## Related quotes > [I have never heard a president in bad times running against - let's face it, that's what he's doing here - running against bad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-matthews/i-have-never-heard-a-president-in-bad-times-running-against-let-s/) [Chris Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-matthews/) > [All we have heard from this president and his team are attacks on anyone who dares to point out the obvious. They have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/all-we-have-heard-from-this-president-and-his-team-are-attacks-on/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) > [I have not heard from President Barack. I've never gotten a phone call.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-pharoah/i-have-not-heard-from-president-barack-i-ve-never-gotten-a-phone-call/) [Jay Pharoah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-pharoah/) > [“Zach had once heard the president described as "the most dangerous narcissist alive, because the world really does revolve around him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-farnsworth/zach-had-once-heard-the-president-described-as-the-most-dangerous/) [Christopher Farnsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-farnsworth/) > [No child should be left behind - I've heard this from President Obama. 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He could start by spending 27 years in prison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-imus/nelson-mandela-is-a-leader-barack-obama-should-try-to-emulate-he/) [Don Imus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-imus/) > [Barbra Streisand developed overwhelming performance anxiety at the height of her career; for 27 years she refused to perform for the general public, appearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-stossel/barbra-streisand-developed-overwhelming-performance-anxiety-at-the/) [Scott Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-stossel/) > [I did not know it then, but Frida had already become the most important fact in my life. 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You know it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-donaldson/if-you-have-a-setback-and-you-re-not-doing-well-and-then-you-overcome/) [Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/) > [News conferences are the only chance the American public has to see Ronald Reagan use his mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-donaldson/news-conferences-are-the-only-chance-the-american-public-has-to-see/) [Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/) > [If you sent me to cover a pie-baking contest on Mother's Day, I'm going to ask dear old Mom why she used artificial sweetener…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-donaldson/if-you-sent-me-to-cover-a-pie-baking-contest-on-mother-s-day-i-m/) [Sam Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-donaldson/) > [As I went to college, I went into radio and television. 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