Alexander Acosta Quotes

I don't mind how much my Ministers talk, so long as they do what I say.

You shut the door, you tell the boss exactly what you think. But when the door opens, the job of the vice president is to stand right next to the president and implement the policy that he's decided. And I'm prepared to do that.

Anyone who thinks that the vice-president can take a position independent of the president of his administration simply has no knowledge of politics or government. You are his choice in a political marriage, and he expects your absolute loyalty.

You do not need 435 people playing commander-in-chief.

I am not bound by instructions from the State Department. I am a member of the President's cabinet and take instructions only from him.

The White House Chief of Staff must always remember that he is staff and not chief.

He's the president. I'm the general. Unless I want to get impeached, I got to do what he says.

As in the presence of the Master, the Servants are equall, and without any honour at all; So are the Subjects, in the presence of the Soveraign. And though they shine some more, some lesse, when they are out of his sight; yet in his presence, they shine no more than the Starres in presence of the Sun.

I mean loyalty - you know, look, first we serve the people. I've always looked at that. You serve the people first. But having said that, you never forget who's in charge. You never forget who the CEO of a country is when you decide to serve. And so everyone works at the pleasure of the president. And that's what, you know, we have to remember is if he doesn't feel comfortable, he can do something about it.

Learn to obey before you command.

If in doubt, move decisions up to the President.

I'd have no problem serving under any president.

I think I'm a natural-born leader. I know how to bow down to authority if it's authority that I respect.

Who has not served cannot command.

You got to have people at the top who respond to and are selected by presidents.

The President is going to benefit from me reporting directly to him when I arrive.

It won't be a question of how well-trained or well-equipped the army is but one of the authority it serves.

I grew up to always respect authority and respect those in charge.

Directors are the captains of the ship, and it's your job as the lead actor to make sure that the rest of the cast understand that by doing whatever he says.

He who demands does not command.

I will have no criticism of my administration from you or any other officer of the Army.

Would you please tell Sinclair to go home and let me run the country.

I go back to Washington every year to see the President and I get my orders directly from him—not from those pipsqueaks [at the State Department.]

As to mere power I have been for years in the daily exercise of more personal authority than any President habitually enjoys.

My responsibility is not to the public. It is to the chairman alone.