Historically, the coupling of president and Speaker has been a tricky one that encourages a choreography both quick-footed and wary

Staffers tend to mimic their bosses, to take their key from them.

He was making the inevitable pivot from critic to manager.

He was experienced enough to spot the downside of doing the right thing.

The Russian people were just like us. They were victims of their own government. Ronald Reagan

Shared history was the coin of the realm.

Anecdotes came with his DNA.

The author deduces the best way James Baker serve Reagan as Chief of Staff was to continually remind him why he wanted to be president.

In politics there is a large difference between loosing and being defeated.

He'd made a name for himself out there in the world beyond not just in spite of the distinctly unfashionable persona he presented, but, perhaps, BECAUSE of it.

The author, at the time a Carter speechwriter in the 1980 campaign, showed visible distress at his boss's performance and was warned by a friend in the traveling press, lest he become the story.

A wolf can only curse a lion when surrounded by its peers.

I had no jealousy of work, no jealousy of money. I was just jealous of women who took advantage of men, because I didn't know how to do it.

Jan'nah and Jahannum will both contain sinners, but Jan'nah will have sinners who repented

We don't want to read a book. We want to live an experience.

Someone asked me if I play piano because I feel like I have a protective wall around me. Maybe. I am really messed up.

I'm really 95 percent Mr. Rogers, and only 5 percent Oscar the Grouch.'

In any survival situation, you need to weigh the risk and the reward.

In the affluent society, no useful distinction can be made between luxuries and necessities.

Prosperity, alas! is often but another name for pride.

My dream of course, as a writer and a person who's an entertainer, is: Grow up to be Mindy Kaling, don't grow up to be Mindy Lahiri.