I formed the hypothesis that each of us could have achieved our objectives without the terrible loss of life. And I wanted to test that by going to Vietnam.

Brains are like hearts - they go where they are appreciated.

It would be our policy to use nuclear weapons wherever we felt it necessary to protect our forces and achieve our objectives.

It is true that at the time [1962] we had a strategic nuclear force of approximately five thousand warheads compared to the Soviet's three hundred.

I don't object to its being called "McNamara's war." I think it is a very important war and I am pleased to be identified with it and do whatever I can to win it.

They'll be no learning period with nuclear weapons. Make one mistake and you're going to destroy nations.

To this day we seem to act in the world as though we know what's right for everybody.