As someone who has more than a passing acquaintance with most of the 20th century presidents, I have often thought that their accomplishments have little staying power in shaping popular views of their leadership. Robert Dallek More Quotes by Robert Dallek More Quotes From Robert Dallek The consequence of the Bay of Pigs failure wasn't an acceptance of Castro and his control of Cuba but, rather, a renewed determination to bring him down by stealth. Robert Dallek determination acceptance pigs In counterfactual history, nothing is certain. Robert Dallek certain Truman is now seen as a near-great president because he put in place the containment doctrine boosted by the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan and NATO, which historians now see as having been at the center of American success in the cold war. Robert Dallek doctrine president war One doesn't simply write about Lyndon Johnson. You get the Johnson treatment from beyond the grave - arm around you, nose to nose. I should admit that he also reminds me of my father, quite an overbearing and narcissistic character. And in some ways, he reminds me of myself. Another workaholic. Robert Dallek writing character father ... what's in a person's heart and soul will not likely be changed by the ability to command a helicopter to land on the South Lawn. Robert Dallek land heart character Like Lyndon Johnson, President Obama understands that timidity in a time of troubles is a prescription for failure. Robert Dallek johnson president trouble Presidents by six years have been there long enough for the media and the country to see their flaws. Robert Dallek media country years It is very difficult for [people] to accept the idea that someone as inconsequential as Oswald could have killed someone as consequential as Kennedy. Robert Dallek accepting people ideas What makes war interesting for Americans is that we don't fight war on our soil, we don't have direct experience of it, so there's an openness about the meanings we give it. Robert Dallek fighting giving war There is a line between scurrilous nonsense and serious discussion that laps over, especially in this day and age when you've got all this electronic media and these blogs and this kind of fanatical impulse to bring down the opposing candidate. Robert Dallek day you serious age For those of us who cry out for gun control, our fears cannot be eliminated as long as the country remains an armed camp in which the most troubled among us can find ways to appropriate one of the easily available weapons in all our communities. Robert Dallek gun-control cry gun long Don't be intimidated by people who seem to be experts. Hear their points of view and get their judgements. But at the end of day, you've got to make a judgement because it's not their life that's going to be affected so much as your future. Robert Dallek day you future life William Henry Harrison, who died of pneumonia in April of 1841, after only one month in office, was the first Chief Executive to hide his physical frailties. Robert Dallek hide only who office What I find so interesting is, Herbert Hoover in August 1928 said no country in the world was closer to abolishing poverty than the United States. And then, of course, we had the Great Depression. Robert Dallek great poverty depression world Racial segregation in the South not only separated the races, but it separated the South from the rest of the country. Robert Dallek racial rest segregation country Clinton's egregious act of self-indulgence was outdone by an impeachment based not on constitutionally required high crimes and misdemeanors but on a vindictive determination to bring down a president who had offended self-righteous moralists eager to put a different political agenda in place. Robert Dallek down place political determination Theodore Roosevelt had drawn public attention to his attractive family in order to create a bond with ordinary Americans. Eleanor Roosevelt had successfully broached the idea that a First Lady could be nearly as much a public figure as her husband. Robert Dallek bond family husband attention When President Obama first unveiled his gun control proposals recommending a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and better background checks, there seemed to be momentum behind the effort. But then the proposals ran into a wall. Robert Dallek better gun-control effort gun Presidential aspirants reach for the highest office to satisfy some yearning for greatness or even immortality. Robert Dallek reach some greatness office Nixon's deep antipathy toward Jews is well known, and he took a strange satisfaction in having Kissinger in his inner circle, where he could periodically taunt him. Robert Dallek deep circle strange satisfaction
