"When you raise issues with the President, try to come away with both that decision and also a precedent. Pose issues so as to evoke broader policy guidance. This can help to answer a range of similar issues likely to arise later."

"If the staff lacks policy guidance against which to test decisions, their decisions will be random."

"First rule of politics: you can't win unless you're on the ballot. Second rule: If you run, you may lose. And, if you tie, you do not win."

"Leave the President's family business to him. You will have plenty to do without trying to manage the First Family. They are likely to do fine without your help."

"Work continuously to trim the White House staff from your first day to your last. All the pressures are to the contrary."

"Learn to say "I don't know." If used when appropriate, it will be often."

"If in doubt, don't. If still in doubt, do what's right."

"Don't divide the world into "them" and "us." Avoid infatuation with or resentment of the press, the Congress, rivals, or opponents. Accept them as facts. They have their jobs and you have yours."

"Let your family, staff, and friends know that you're still the same person, despite all the publicity and notoriety that accompanies your position."

"If you develop rules, never have more than ten."

"Be able to resign. It will improve your value to the President and do wonders for your performance."

"You're thinking of Eurpoe as Germany and France. I don't. I think that's old Europe."

"Arguments of convenience lack integrity and inevitably trip you up."

"Make decisions about the President's personal security. He can overrule you, but don't ask him to be the one to counsel caution."

"It isn't making mistakes that's critical; it's correcting them and getting on with the principal task."

"If you are not criticized, you may not be doing much."

"The Federal Government should be the last resort, not the first. Ask if a potential program is truly a federal responsibility or whether it can better be handled privately, by voluntary organizations, or by local or state governments."

"Know that the amount of criticism you receive may correlate somewhat to the amount of publicity you receive."

"Amidst all the clutter, beyond all the obstacles, aside from all the static, are the goals set. Put your head down, do the best job possible, let the flak pass, and work towards those goals."

"Don't automatically obey Presidential directives if you disagree or if you suspect he hasn't considered key aspects of the issue."

"Don't necessarily avoid sharp edges. Occasionally they are necessary to leadership."

"If a prospective Presidential approach can't be explained clearly enough to be understood well, it probably hasn't been thought through well enough. If not well understood by the American people, it probably won't "sail" anyway. Send it back for further thought."

"In politics, every day is filled with numerous opportunities for serious error. Enjoy it."

"Think ahead. Don't let day-to-day operations drive out planning."

"Reduce the layers of management. They put distance between the top of an organization and the customers."

"Plan backwards as well as forward. Set objectives and trace back to see how to achieve them. You may find that no path can get you there. Plan forward to see where your steps will take you, which may not be clear or intuitive."

"I can't tell you if the use of force in Iraq today will last five days, five weeks or five months, but it won't last any longer than that."

"The Secretary of Defense is not a super General or Admiral. His task is to exercise civilian control over the Department for the Commander-in-Chief and the country."

"In the execution of Presidential decisions work to be true to his views, in fact and tone."

"Our task, your task... is to try to connect the dots before something happens. People say, 'Well, where's the smoking gun?' Well, we don't want to see a smoking gun from a weapon of mass destruction."

"Many people around the President have sizeable egos before entering government, some with good reason. Their new positions will do little to moderate their egos."

"If in doubt, move decisions up to the President."

"Don't think of yourself as indispensable or infallible. As Charles De Gaulle said, the cemeteries of the world are full of indispensable men."

"Presidential leadership needn't always cost money. Look for low- and no-cost options. They can be surprisingly effective."

"Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small."

"Be yourself. Follow your instincts. Success depends, at least in part, on the ability to "carry it off.""

"Reduce the number of lawyers. They are like beavers - they get in the middle of the stream and dam it up."

"If you foul up, tell the President and correct it fast. Delay only compounds mistakes."

"When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control."

"Don't be a bottleneck. If a matter is not a decision for the President or you, delegate it. Force responsibility down and out. Find problem areas, add structure and delegate. The pressure is to do the reverse. Resist it."

"Secretary Powell and I agree on every single issue that has ever been before this administration except for those instances where Colin's still learning."

"You will launch many projects, but have time to finish only a few. So think, plan, develop, launch and tap good people to be responsible. Give them authority and hold them accountable. Trying to do too much yourself creates a bottleneck."

"Oh my goodness gracious, what you can buy off the Internet in terms of overhead photography. A trained ape can know an awful lot of what is going on in this world, just by punching on his mouse, for a relatively modest cost."

"Look for what's missing. Many advisors can tell a President how to improve what's proposed or what's gone amiss. Few are able to see what isn't there."

"Politics is human beings; it's addition rather than subtraction."

"Visit with your predecessors from previous Administrations. They know the ropes and can help you see around some corners. Try to make original mistakes, rather than needlessly repeating theirs."

"There are a lot of people who lie and get away with it, and that's just a fact."

"Don't blame the boss. He has enough problems."

"Your performance depends on your people. Select the best, train them and back them. When errors occur, give sharper guidance. If errors persist or if the fit feels wrong, help them move on. The country cannot afford amateur hour in the White House."

"Congress, the press, and the bureaucracy too often focus on how much money or effort is spent, rather than whether the money or effort actually achieves the announced goal."