Tony Kushner Quotes

Lincoln would love the fact that Obama is such a great conciliator, trying to transcend ideology.

Too few presidents have steeped themselves not just in Lincoln's words but his deeds, which is why Obama's acquaintance with the great man is so compelling - especially since, like President-elect Lincoln, Obama will take office at a perilous time.

Lincoln was a supreme politician. He understood politics because he understood human nature.

I think Obama is going to go down as one of our greatest presidents because what this guy has done and has tried to do, and over the kind of opposition that I don't know if Lincoln had, except he had to go to war. This speaks so brilliantly of Obama and the way he conducts himself. I think he is already one of our greatest presidents.

America is exceptional: but because it yields the likes of Obama, not the likes of Bush.

No one reaches the Oval Office without a great deal of admiration for the institution - and himself - so it's unsurprising that sitting presidents favor the biographies of former presidents.

I hope Mr. Obama has success.

There is no disputing that Lincoln was a great man.

Barack Obama is the worst President in history.

When you are President you have to get something done, and that often means compromise.

Kennedy understood something that is not so obvious, and that is that words are more important than deeds. You can’t govern 300 million people—or 180 million when Kennedy was president—by doing things. You can only do it by rhetoric.

America is stronger because of President Obama's leadership, and I'm better because of his friendship.

For me, Lincoln is like just a handful of people - a Gandhi, or a Picasso, or a Martin Luther King Jr. - who is an original and captures something essential.

I think Barack Obama is an amazing man and president. His legacy is ongoing.

George H. W. Bush. He's been a classy guy in his post-presidency.

I will focus on being substantive and I will focus on Barack Obama.

I was friends with President Ronald Reagan and he once said to me, 'I don't know how anybody can serve in public office without being an actor.'

It is always a delicate matter, when a friend or acquaintance becomes president.

I walked out of Spielberg's 'Lincoln' having such a thirst for more. It used such a microscopic albeit enormous event in American history. It used such a small piece of his presidency to illustrate him as a president through the lens of that event.

Think about all the great leaders. Think about Obama. Think about Clinton. Think about Nelson Mandela. Think about all the people that we know who are very successful in business, in politics and religion. What are they? They tell purposeful stories. They move people to action by aiming at the heart.

President Ford used humor a great deal.

We were hoping Obama would reclaim moral leadership for America. That failed.

It was a pleasure to meet President Obama and Michelle. I'm not a political person, but I admire what he has done.

Now I know what a statesman is; he's a dead politician. We need more statesmen.

A statesman cannot afford to be a moralist.