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Robert M. Gates
Born
in Wichita, Kansas, The United States
September 25, 1943
Website
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“What I know concerns me. What I don’t know concerns me even more. What people aren’t telling me worries me the most.”
― Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War
― Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War
“Where this lack of passion mattered most for me was Afghanistan. When soldiers put their lives on the line, they need to know that the command in chief who sent them in harm's way believes in their mission. They need him to talk often to them and to the country, not just to express gratitude for their service and sacrifice but also to explain and affirm why that sacrifice is necessary, why their fight is noble, why their cause is just, and why their fight is noble, why their cause is just, and why they must prevail. President Obama never did that.”
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“Self-discipline is central to the leadership of institutions and to reforming them. A favorite saying of mine is "Never miss a good chance to shut up." I won't tell you how many times in a congressional hearing I just wanted to scream. How often in the White House Situation Room I wanted to say, "That's the dumbest idea I ever heard." How often in a briefing at the CIA or the Pentagon I wanted to tell someone where to stick his PowerPoint slides. Senior leaders want to blow off steam-shout at people- all the time. But to be an effective leader, you have to suppress those urges.”
― A Passion for Leadership: Lessons on Change and Reform from Fifty Years of Public Service
― A Passion for Leadership: Lessons on Change and Reform from Fifty Years of Public Service
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| The History Book ...: * #44 (US) BARACK OBAMA (PRESIDENT) 2009 - 2017 | 211 | 660 | Mar 20, 2022 12:19PM |
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