H. W. Brands Quotes

Politics. Where fat, bald, disagreeable men, unable to be a candidate themselves, teach a president how to act on a public stage.

When you see how the President makes political or policy decisions, you see who he is. The essence of the Presidency is decision-making.

You're on the elevator of public opinion when you're in the presidency.

A man who understands the power of the Presidency, who understands the potential of the Presidency, can get almost anything accomplished.

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

It seems to be the profession of a President simply to hear other people talk.

Leadership is important in politics.

One of the things that you learn, having been in this [President's] office for four years, is the old adage of Abraham Lincoln's. That with public opinion there's nothing you can't do and without public opinion there's very little you can get done.

If you're a governor of a big state, people sense your presence a little bit, even your fellow governors.

Politics and power is a realm of relative influence.

I think I can regard myself as a political decision-maker.

Do you realize the responsibility I carry? I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House.

My job is being 'Mrs. Ronald Reagan.'

The art of politics is knowing what to do next.

I love Obama's calm and dignity. A lot of people confuse that with being aloof, but I know people that have held that job. It's a 24-hour barrage of information.

Five years ago, when I was elected, I had the feeling that the president doesn't have much to do. I've realized, though, that this is not a rubber-stamp position.

When you're out of office, you can be a statesman.

We shouldn't require our politicians to be movie stars. Then again, we're all influenced by charisma. It's hard not to be. We all collectively fall for it.

When you enter the realm of politics, you don't enter it because you want to be popular. When I want to be popular, I pull on a guitar and sing a song.

President Obama's biggest weakness is weakness.

Given the daunting challenges that we face, it's important that president elect Obama is prepared to really take power and begin to rule day one.

A wise governor told me a long time ago, political capital you don't get more of by keeping it. You get it by using it.

We need a great president.

No, no, no. Dick Cheney forbade me to waste time on his image. I would have liked to have done more.

My fate is to be President of the Republic - or leader of the opposition.