If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't 'sail' anyway. Send it back for further thought.

Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up.

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

We are in the process of trying to liberate that country. And at the moment where the war ends and the coalition forces occupy the areas where those capabilities - chemical and biological weapons - are likely to be, to the extent they haven't been moved out of the country, it obviously is important to find them.

When starting at the bottom, be willing to learn from those at the top.

Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective.

Walk around. If you are invisible, the mystique of the President's office may perpetuate inaccurate impressions about you or the President, to his detriment. After all, you may not be as bad as they're saying.