Even if you don't have the authorities - and frankly I didn't have the authorities for anything - if you take charge, people will follow.

I understand how important the automakers are to America. And I understand a bankruptcy; a failure in that industry wouldn't be a good thing. It's something we should avoid.

For market discipline to constrain risk effectively, financial institutions must be allowed to fail. Under optimal financial regulatory and financial system infrastructures, such a failure would not threaten the overall system.

In terms of the overall economy, we've got challenges and the big focus has got to be on recovery, on repair, and that's going to take a while.

One of the most constant aspects of American life is change - and nowhere is it more evident than in our financial markets.

In China, export lobbies have fought for policies that favor their interests and limit foreign competition.

China and the U.S. are the two largest importers of oil. They are the two largest emitters of carbon.