I had learned many years ago in private business never to take responsibility without adequate authority; and the new Secretary of Defense, as budgets were sharply cut, quickly found that out.

My father-in-law was once Chairman of Military Affairs in the Senate, the latter part of the Wilson Administrations. He knew a lot about and was fond of the Army.

Well over fifty years ago I was making radio loudspeakers and radio sets in Rochester, New York; pretty young and inexperienced; but we survived the depression.

Later the Administration wanted me to actually sell all remaining surplus by running the War Assets Corporation. I said I couldn't do it without some shoe leather.

I believe the military should be wary of diplomacy until war is declared; then the State Department should keep its nose out and let the military do whatever is necessary to win.

FDR had been Assistant Secretary of the Navy. They told me, now forgotten, just how many pictures of ships they took out of the White House after he died. But he could choose good men.

If civilians are going to be killed, I would rather have them be their civilians than our civilians.

In real danger sometimes even a democracy can really keep a secret.

In life, storms come not to hurt you but to make you stronger.

A good story is one liked. A great story is one that challenges thought, defiant and gets mouths talking.

We don't have the luxury of thinking ... Some people make all the decisions for us

When the first settlers landed on American shores, the difficulties in finding or making shelter must have seemed ironical as well as almost unbearable.

I put music on and I drive around town.

I have practically no private life. I'm already used to this and ready for it. Yes, sometimes it is hard, but it is the choice I made.

Undoubtedly the Afghans must be, by our standards, the best-looking people in the world. They have everything; height, proportions, carriage, features and complexion.

Journalism will kill you, but it will keep you alive while you're at it.

Is photography an art? There is no point in trying to find out if it is an art. Art is old-fashioned. We need something else.

Go ahead and make something for the elites. Not the elites of class or wealth, but the elites of curiosity, passion and taste. Every great thing ever created was created by and for this group.