John Dickerson Quotes

Sometimes in this country, we don't focus a lot on people's experience and their resume. Mitt Romney would be the most experienced executive to be nominated since 1952. The fundamental task for the next president is going to be fixing things, cleaning things up, being a turnaround artist, if you will.

There's always been that theory that if a candidate can't run a decent campaign, he probably can't run a decent presidency. That might be true, although sadly I must admit that running a brilliant campaign does not translate into running a brilliant White House.

Barack Obama is uniquely qualified to speak about the knowledge, experience and temperament that the presidency requires. And I know he is raring to get out there and start campaigning and I really look forward to campaigning with him.

This week you will nominate the most experienced executive to seek the presidency in 60 years in Mitt Romney. He has no illusions about what makes America great, and he doesn't confuse the presidency with celebrity, or loftiness with leadership.

A President needs political understanding to run the government, but he may be elected without it.

One of the things about leadership is that you've got to show up. And if you want to be president of the United States you've got to make a case to the American people that Barack Obama needs to be dismissed from his position.

Those who know Governor Roosevelt [TR] must believe that he is much better fitted for the Presidency than is Mr. McKinley.

We need someone who has the experience - and the demeanor - to be the president of the United States.

The presidency is a serious job that requires sound judgment and good ideas, and there's no doubt in my mind that Jeb Bush has the experience and the character to be a great president.

I happen to believe that if we want to replace a lifetime politician like Barack Obama, who had no experience leading anything... We've got to nominate a leader if we're going to replace someone who is not a leader.

I can tell you is all nine of the people here [on debates] would make an infinitely better commander in chief than Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.

I want someone in the White House who's had a life.

When you're President you have to make a lot of tough decisions. You have to keep lining them up and making them.

Be a President. Don't try to be a lawyer.

I’ve watched Dick a long time, and he just hasn’t grown. So I haven’t been able to believe he is presidential timber.

Pretty damn good speech. Now if all you had to do to run for and be president was talk, Adlai'd be the best. But it ain't.

Men in the shadow of Wall Street are not qualified to be President.

Almost nobody is thought of as presidential caliber until he gets himself elected.

I am afraid that Franklin D. Roosevelt has not thoroughly matured.

Anybody who is smart enough to be great, will be smart enough not to be President

There is not alternative to speechwriters. You can’t run for president and write your own speeches.

Obama doesn't know how to invent the iPhone; he can't start a successful business. He's never really worked in a business except for the briefest of times.

I voted for McCain. But I thought Obama ran the best campaign I have ever known - disciplined, well organized, very, very good. I was very impressed.

When a president was elected with foreign policy experience, it was usually less about his foreign policy experience than other things.

Hillary doesn't play. She has more experience and exposure to the presidency than any candidate in our lifetime - yes, more than Barack, more than Bill. So she is absolutely ready to be Commander-in-Chief on day one. And, yes, she happens to be a woman.