Robert Dallek Quotes

The public's evaluation of the job George W. Bush is doing as president changed dramatically as a result of the horrific attacks of September 11 and his response in leading the country on a campaign against terrorism.

All of this suggests that while citizens became more comfortable with President Bush after September 11 and thought him to have the requisite leadership skills, they continue to harbor doubts about his priorities, loyalties, interests, and policies.

No matter what was written or what was charged, the harmful effect was largely washed away as soon as the reassuring voice of the President of the United States started coming through the ether into the family living-room.

That is the way it is in America and it is what makes us a great nation. True leaders must handle difficult situations or have competent people who handle those situations. Sources did give information of a general nature to the Administration and it is obvious that an attack still occurred. This is a more 'impeachable' offense than what was brought before the Congress. Fortunately, George W. Bush will in just a few days become our President. I can assure you that such situations will not be mishandled by his Administration. However general the information might be, the President-elect will act with authority to prevent such tragedies

You don't go to war with the President you want, you go to war with the President you have.

When political and business leaders tell the public - any public - 'We don't trust you to make the right decision' - they prejudice that electorate against the very proposals they want it to accept and undermine public confidence in themselves.

Whose leadership, whose judgment, whose values do you want in the White House when that crisis lands like a thud on the Oval Office desk?

When I was the captain of a ship I never failed to bring my ship to port and I won't fail to bring Romania to safe harbor. The belief that the president no longer represents the people is false.

Americans have been given goals to achieve in Iraq, but not the standards by which to measure progress. And the only assurance Americans have been given that we can reach those goals is to trust the President and his Administration at their word.

The President is always abused. If he isn't, he isn't doing anything.

Remember the picture of the president in the classroom, being told of the attack by chief of staff Andy Card? The American people thought they were seeing a man suddenly thrust into a grave challenge no one could have anticipated.

I'm very pleased with the job President Bush is doing and he's off to a terrific start.

In baseball it’s three strikes and you’re out. What is it for the Secretary of Defense? …. Isn’t it time for you to resign.

Not only capacity and talent in the administration, but also a perfect heartfelt cordiality among its members are essentially necessary to command the public confidence.

When a top political leader (or a military dictator) faces a substantial public opinion that openly expresses its lack of faith/trust in his leadership qualities, the leader/dictator in turn tries to find (real or imagined) enemies ‘out there’ to divert public attention.

We have a crisis in confidence because we have an absence of leadership.

We need a presidency which acts and protects us.

I'll tell you one thing about Donald Trump: There will never be a Benghazi in a Donald Trump administration.

If there is anyone who should not be trusted with regard to intelligence, it is Donald Trump, both in the literal sense and with regard to our intelligence services. He shouldn't have access to these briefings.

The public has no interest in whether the President acts boldly or timidly in his personal affairs.

The job of a president is to identify, distinguish between the two. Make sure the people know that we view it as a threat that we're - because people are scared and they're legitimately so. Take action accordingly. And then you're going to lessen people's fears on the day-to-day activities. We can't be paralyzed in place. And that's where we are today.

The Spanish PM rang me to say: 'I have the support of only 4 per cent of the people.' I said, 'Crikey, that's even less than think Elvis Presley is still alive.'

If you've got somebody in harm's way, you want the president being -- making advice, not -- be given advice by the military, and not making decisions based upon the latest Gallup poll or focus group.

We need to have some people fired for reasons of public trust.

The nature of the presidency is such that you cannot isolate yourself.