David Broder Quotes

Words matter in foreign policy—even empty words.

There is a responsibility as president to choose your words carefully, especially on foreign policy, and to speak as clearly as possible.

The President has rarely leisure to give close or continuous attention to foreign policy.

Be careful what you say. Words matter. Words really matter in foreign policy.

I majored in political communications, so I intended to be a diplomat.

The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran all contribute to core goals of U.S. policy in those countries.

One of my goals upon becoming Secretary of State was to take diplomacy out of capitals, out of government offices, into the media, into the streets of countries.

Politics is a matter of communications.

The media has become a major player in the conduct of diplomacy.

One of the reasons we don't have a serious foreign policy is that we pay too much attention to public opinion.

Speechwriting is where the philosophical, ideological and political tensions of the administration get worked out.

Governments first decide on their interests and then seek the vocabulary most congenial to their policies.

... the persons who control the President's rhetoric exert an enormous influence over his actions and policies.

Public diplomacy, practiced in harmony with traditional diplomacy, will enable us to advance our interest, to protect our security, and to continue to provide the moral basis for our leadership in the world.

Public Diplomacy – the open exchange of ideas and information – is an inherent characteristic of democratic societies. Its global mission is central to … foreign policy. And it remains indispensable to … national interests, ideals and leadership role in the world.

The United States need not worry about hearts and minds in foreign lands.

Politics is about explanations.

You say different things to a foreign country in public than you say in public.

I learned during my term and in the presidency that we should not discuss about assumptions or insinuations. If one day I have to do something against the U.S., the first one to get to know what I was going to do would be the president of the U.S.

This is strictly personal opinion, not company policy, but I do think that we could do with having a USIA on steroids.

Presidents, leaders, to be effective have to represent the whole to the parts and to the world outside. They may live in the centre but they must not be the centre. To reinforce the common sense they must be a constant teacher, ever travelling, ever talking, ever listening, the chief missionary of the common cause.

(A Foreign Secretary) is forever poised between the cliche and the indiscretion.

Condi Rice talks tough but she cannot be tough herself.

Roosevelt was the one who had the vision to change our policy from isolationism to world leadership. That was a terrific revolution. Our country's never been the same since.

The United States has got to adopt a policy of befriending and creating allies around the world.