I think in the context of senior government positions, I think an anecdote of what I told President-Elect Barack Obama when we had our first meeting. And I said, "You don't know me. Can you trust me? Why do you think you can trust me?" and so on. But at the end, I said, "You can count on me to be loyal to you. I will not leak. I will keep my disagreements with you private. And if I cannot be loyal, I'll leave." Loyalty means doing what you think is in the best interest of that person as well as the country.

Well, I've ruffled a few feathers at all the institutions I've led. But I think that's part of leadership.

No policy has proved more successful in making friends for the United States, during the cold war and since, than educating students from abroad at our colleges and universities.

I will always be an advocate in terms of wars of necessity. I am just much more cautious on wars of choice.

Development is a lot cheaper than sending soldiers.

Congress is best viewed from a distance - the farther the better - because up close, it is truly ugly.

In government, I'm a strong believer in the need for reform of government agencies and departments. They - they have gotten fat and sloppy, and they're not user friendly. They are inefficient. They cost too much.