JAMES BAKER

This is what happens, when, for the first time in modern history, a candidate resorts to lawsuits to try to overturn the outcome of an election for president.

Never let the other fellow set the agenda.

I understand personally that it is frustrating to lose presidential elections by narrow margins.

When you have energy companies like Shell and British Petroleum, both of which are perhaps represented in this room, saying there is a problem with excess carbon dioxide emission, I think we ought to listen.

Sometimes you move publicly, sometimes privately. Sometimes quietly, sometimes at the top of your voice.

You don't need to know who's playing on the White House tennis court to be a good president.

Puritan standards have become the public standards of America, and you will find more of New England in Colorado Springs, Boulder, or Greeley than in most towns of Massachusetts.

Structure the national security apparatus so that … they are all singing off the same sheet of music.

It is difficult to overcome protectionism when times are bad.

In all free trade agreements there are winners and losers.

A pragmatic sense of what will and will not play politically is a critical skill of a negotiator.

Because you're a heartbeat away from the big office. That's why.

George W. Bush's motto is "You die, and I'll fly.

You simply cannot ever refuse to be on the attack in a campaign.

Be careful what you say. Words matter. Words really matter in foreign policy.

Words matter in foreign policy—even empty words.

Why spend billions on a super collider, when we already have John Sununu?

We have to deal in 30 second sound bites. It's not your fault. It's not our fault.

We don’t have a dog in that fight.

We are optimistic with respect to thrifts .... I don't think that there is any cause for undue concern and I would reject any suggestion that we are in the midst of some sort of a major systemic problem with respect to any element of our financial services industry.

There is a middle ground between sitting on our hands and sending in the marines.

The United Nations is a means. It is not an end for American foreign policy.

The telephone number is 1-202-456-1414 When you're serious about peace, call us.

Policy flip-flops debase the currency of United States credibility.

Just because you change administrations doesn't mean you have to change [foreign] policy.