President Quotes

When things don't go well they like to blame presidents; and that's something that presidents are paid for.

funny politicians

Every President needs a son of a bitch, and I'm Nixon's.

The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.

A group of politicians deciding to dump a President because his morals are bad is like the Mafia getting together to bump off the Godfather for not going to church on Sunday.

morals politicians

The definition of happiness of the Greeks...is full use of your powers along lines of excellence.  I find, therefore, the Presidency provides some happiness.

happiness power politics

The President may indeed in one respect resemble the commander of an army in peace, but in another and more essential sense he resembles the commander of a ship at sea.  He must have a helm to grasp, a course to steer, a port to seek.

Power is poison.  Its effect on Presidents had always been tragic, chiefly as an almost insane excitement at first, and a worse reaction afterwards.

power

The president of the United States bears about as much relationship to the real business of running America as does Colonel Sanders to the business of frying chicken.

Presidency, n. The greased pig in the field game of American politics.

The Office of President is such a bastardized thing, half royalty and half democracy, that nobody knows whether to genuflect or spit.

All presidents start out to run a crusade but after a couple of years they find they are running something less heroic and much more intractable: namely the presidency.

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President.  I'm beginning to believe it.

The President is the people's lobbyist.

A President is best judged by the enemies he makes when he has really hit his stride.

As democracy is perfected, the office [of U. S. president] represents more and more closely, the inner soul of the people.  On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.

To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.  Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else.

A President has a great chance; his position is almost that of a king and a prime minister rolled into one.

Within the first few months I discovered that being a President is like riding a tiger.  A man has to keep on riding or be swallowed.

To be President of the United States, sir, is to act as advocate for a blind, venomous, and ungrateful client.

Most presidents come to Washington bright as freshly minted dimes and leave much diminished.