Jessica Savitch Quotes

To say that Jimmy Carter does not understand politics or is not a good politician denies the phenomenon by which he got to the White House. He is without question the best politician, when he's working at it, of anybody I have ever seen.

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

… the most sophisticated politician in the country … familiar with every subterranean channel of politics … the most cunning in the devious ways of politics … the most artful politician in the tricks of the craft

Democrats were simply hoping to win some political points by getting their outlandish rhetoric published in the newspapers and heard on the talk shows.

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.

A summit is a photo opportunity featuring two or more heads of government who have no business to transact, but believe a set of smiley photos will do them a lot of good politically.

Today being President is really no different than running for President. It’s about approval ratings and photo ops and damage control and deniability.

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

Clinton was the most formidable politician I have ever encountered.

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

It is not true that Trump is nobody's fool. He is the GOP's.

Politicians don't say no to cameras very often.

White House staff spends enormous amounts of time planning a president's every move so that his public persona reflects the mood of the public.

Everything in politics is so stage-managed.

This has always been the way of presidential politics. The president rises above the fray while his surrogates go on the attack. They throw the spears and fling the mud; he sits upon the throne.

Does Obama create confusion on purpose?

It just seemed the timing of it was a little bit of pandering to the public at a time of an election.

Politics as battle has given way to politics as spectacle.

In politics you learn to always smile.

I'm not clever enough to be in machinations and real politics.

I understand the process of politics and the game of television.

Politics is just show business for ugly people.

You know, I started my career in politics in 1967. I'm not new to this. I did not just fall off the Christmas tree. I understand the world is complex. I know that there are people out there who want to hurt other people.

Pictures can be devastating. Who allowed John Kerry to get himself photographed windsurfing in a flowered swimsuit? Anyone in the real world in that operation?

When I was young, all the politicians looked like ancient Latin teachers or greengrocers. They were mumbly, stumbly men with their hair blowing in their eyes, walking into trees, opening the wrong door. They had no idea how to present themselves.