Every president when he is elected has to live with the pluses and minuses his predecessor leaves, which includes benefits as well as burdens.

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.

When I served as US Ambassador to NATO in the 1970s, the center of gravity in Europe was France and Germany.

I am going to leave the future of Europe to the Europeans.

The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country.

Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it.

Know that the immediate staff and others in the Administration will assume that your manner, tone and tempo reflect the President's.