I was lecturing at the Columbia Journalism School of Education. I asked them about what was happening to the Fourth Amendment. I said, "By the way, do you know what is in the Fourth Amendment?" One student responded, "Is that the right to bear arms?" It's hard to believe these are bright students.

We hear talk now about reforming public education. There are billions of dollars at stake for such a reform. But I have not heard Arne Duncan, who is the U.S. Education Secretary, mention once the civic illiteracy in the country.

However, I never thought that [George W.] Bush himself was, in any sense, "evil."

Inside that quietude there was the firmest of wills. [Bill Shawn] knew exactly what he wanted to do.

Fortune ought to be a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master.

You have an electorate [in America] that wants to see people who are not tough on crime.

[People] felt good even though they didn't really know much about [Barack Obama] and may have had some doubts.