The whole idea of a democracy is that we ourselves, the people, are supposed to make a path of our politics, and it is we who with our feet and our vote and our labors and our vigilance are supposed to shape our country.

I have criticisms of Ronald Reagan, but he lives in another universe from the kind of political theater that is represented by people, like Sarah Palin, who aren't really public servants.

It was natural to see the struggle for dignity for black people in America as a sister struggle of the Jewish struggle. So growing up, it was always a part of my breakfast cereal to think of myself as someone who was part of a larger struggle.

I don't think Reagan is primarily funny, and I don't think he's primarily marvelous; he's complicated.

It is only education and understanding of the past that teaches us not to repeat history.

Reagan has very significant things to teach us - positive lessons and quite negative lessons.

What was happening was the war on drugs. That was the primary culprit I could see that was getting in the way of black progress.