Shared history was the coin of the realm.

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.

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

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

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.

I hope I make people feel better. I hope I take people out of their situations a little bit and make them happier. That's really why I do what I do.

Evil that arises out of ordinary thinking and is committed by ordinary people is the norm, not the exception.

Jules was a proud little toy. She decided that she was going to work very hard to be the best wolf she could be.

There are always two figures in a marriage, two votes, two conflicting sets of decisions, desires and limitations.

I admire Cate Blanchett and Kate Winslet. I like a lot of comedians. I like Cameron Diaz - she's funny and has a very light spirit. That's quite rare nowadays. There are many actresses I admire.

It's in the democratic citizen's nature to be like a leaf that doesn't believe in the tree it's part of.

Suppression of the feminine principal has enabled The Ego to gain absolute supremacy in the collective human psyche

Planning is the kiss of death of entrepreneurship.

I don't have big ideas. I sometimes have small ideas, which seem to work out.

What I hate is leather leggings and an ankle boot. I hate the line.