I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility. Part of the problem is that this is an expensive game [golf]. I know in a couple of places where there are black members, and they come from pretty much the same socioeconomic level that the white members come from.

We can't rely - or no country can rely on just a single personality to carry it forward. And so what the American founding fathers understood was that institutions were built for human imperfection not human perfection.

Life is full of surprises and and serendipity. Being open to unexpected turns in the road is an important part of success. If you try to plan every step, you may miss those wonderful twists and turns. Just find your next adventure-do it well, enjoy it-and then, not now, think about what comes next.

Does anybody think these people were just sitting around drinking tea?

In any country, if you don't have countervailing institutions, the power of any one president is problematic for democratic development.

Every life is worthy and every life is capable of greatness. We have an obligation to make sure that opportunity for greatness is there.

America's still a very, very powerful symbol and a very important place of leadership for the world.