I do make sure that I've got people who are experts that are helping me make the best decisions possible.

One of the things I think the next president has to do is to stop fanning people's fears. If we spend all our time feeding the American people fear and conflict and division, then they become fearful and conflicted and divided. And if we feed them hope and we feed them reason and tolerance, then they will become tolerant and reasonable and hopeful.

When BP was not moving fast enough on claims, we told BP to set aside $20 billion in a fund - managed by an independent third party - to help all those whose lives have been turned upside down by the spill.

If you want a model for what is possible, if you want to see how to build a peaceful and prosperous and dynamic society, then look at Berlin and look at Germany.

I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator.

I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so.

At a certain point you can't help but lose some feel for what's on the ground because you're not on the ground.