Learn to say 'I don't know.' If used when appropriate, it will be often.

... 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.

The reality is that terrorists can attack any time at any minute, 24 hours a day, using a variety of techniques, in any place at all. And it's not possible to defend in every place, against every technique, against every conceivable approach. It means that you can't stop every terrorist attack. Innocent men, women and children are going to be killed if terrorists are determined to do it.

When asked for your views, by the press or others, remember that what they really want to know is the President's views.

Now, settle down, settle down. Hell, I'm an old man, it's early in the morning and I'm gathering my thoughts here.

The price of being close to the President is delivering bad news. You fail him if you don't tell him the truth. Others won't do it.

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.