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.

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

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.

You shouldn't allow people who hurt you to occupy a fraction of your heart. Forgive and move on, especially in this season of thanksgiving.

To create, one must first question everything.

It will all end very badly, Gus

And he says I have lousy timing

When I think about myself at 15, I can't relate to myself at all. I thought I knew everything.

I did have a feminist side to me, just not in such a pronounced way.

Hope is fragile and needs to be tended and renewed.

Lust hath these three companions: the first, blindness of understanding; the second, hardness of heart; the third, want of grace.

Death comes to us all. Press me again and you shall find yours.

I hate movies that take a long time to shoot or directors that labor over every shot or do excessive amounts of coverage and excessive takes and don't keep things moving or constantly cutting.