It's important for presidents to emotionally connect, with the country in times of crisis, but also with people in Washington. If you can't emotionally connect - and [Barack] Obama is not the greatest, but he can at least do it - then people won't be with you when the times are hard.

I think Mitch Daniels, the former governor of Indiana was a case of that, who was an outstanding administrator.

I am not a Jew for Jesus but I am definitely a Jew for Christmas. Christmas is one of the best things you Christians have given us, along with mac and cheese, Bono, croquet and politeness.

Woe to you who insults the intelligence community, if you're president.

We shouldn't just allow gay marriage. We should insist on gay marriage. We should regard it as scandalous that two people could claim to love each other and not want to sanctify their love with marriage and fidelity.

It's always dangerous to overinterpret what Donald Trump says at any one moment.

I wasn't born with a tie or with Mark Shields stapled to my left hip. I have another life.