Russell Baker Quotes

Sometimes heads of state have to make statements for [local] public consumption.

It’s not only what you do in politics. It’s what you appear to do.

Many senators have developed a canny sense of what will play best for the audience.

A President has to do the image stuff that will help him so that he can do the substantive things he wants to do.

The generation of news by actions taken by the government becomes one weapon in a strained situation. The results, in my opinion, justify the methods we use… News generated by actions of the government as to content and timing are part of the arsenal of weaponry that a President has in application of military force and related forces to the solution of political problems, or to the application of international political pressure.

Whenever we get involved in a war, the White House seems to have 3 priorities: We cannot appear to be losing; we must appear to be winning; we must look like we know what we are doing.

One thing that is fairly undeniable about Trump - love him or loathe him - is his understanding of how to manipulate the media and to perpetuate a symbiotic relationship with the press.

I think politicians who suggest they are uninterested in the support of newspapers are not being straight with people.

This whole fuss did not only damage Fischer's image, but that of the USA as well. The way the Americans treated one of their most popular citizens did not make a positive impression worldwide.

I don't want a headline saying 'Kennedy suggests this or implies that.'

Never believe people in this business who say they don't read what's written about them.

We all know that looks matter, and modern politicians have always assumed that their battles are decided on both substance and image.

What I've certainly learned is that whenever I've said anything about real politics, I've come under attack. So it's best simply to play politics on television.

Congressional investigations are for the benefit of photographers.

Governing today means giving acceptable signs of credibility. It is like advertising and it is the same effect that is achieved—commitment to a scenario.

Politics is the business of managing perceptions.

So long as cameras are there, confirmations will be drawn-out photo opportunities.

The presentation of an issue can no longer be controlled.

I have no more obligation to spin. When you’re in the White House, you spin.

No one's reputation is quite what he himself perceives it ought to be.

How many people live on the reputation of the reputation they might have made!.

A dozen men in good suits and women in silk dresses will circulate smoothly among the reporters, spouting confident opinions. They won't be just press agents trying to impart a favorable spin to a routine release. They'll be the Spin Doctors, senior advisers to the candidates

I will say this: One thing I did see in my reporting again and again is that the Obamas themselves are much more involved in handling stories than is usually known.

Politicians don't say no to cameras very often.

I don't go out of the way to create controversies, I know some actresses pay their publicist money to create a controversy, but I don't know why this happens to me.