The most underestimated risk for a politician is overexposure.

Preserve the President's options. He may need them.

The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it can better be handled privately, by voluntary organizations, or by local or state governments.

It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task.

Listening to both sides does not necessarily bring about a correct judgment.

A president has to provide leadership to gain support.

... something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.