I've always said, 'I don't want to be irrelevant.'

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.

One of the things I enjoy the most is fishing.

Well, as you know, we're working through a difficult period in our financial markets right now, as we work off some of the past excesses. But the American people can remain confident in the soundness and the resilience of our financial system.

China needs a currency that reflects underlying economic fundamentals.

I think all governments engage in intelligence gathering vis-a-vis other governments.

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.