There's no doubt that I'm a better president now than when I first took office. This is not a job where there's a manual, and over time you get a better sense of what's important, what's not, how to see around corners and anticipate problems, as opposed to just managing problems once they've arrived.

I don't welcome leaks. There's a reason why these programs are classified.

You have to exercise, or at some point you'll just break down.

Part of American leadership is making sure that we're doing nation building here at home. That will help us maintain the kind of American leadership that we need.

One thing I will not compromise over is whether or not Congress should pay the tab for a bill they've already racked up. If Congress refuses to give the United States the ability to pay its bills on time, the consequences for the entire global economy could be catastrophic.

I became a lightning rod for some partisan battles. I could not be prouder of the track record we've put together. By almost every measure, the country is significantly better off than when I came in.

I will stand with Israel if they are attacked.