Bob Woodward

"To say that the press brought down Nixon, thats horseshit. The press always plays a role, whether by being passive or by being aggressive, but its a mistake to overemphasize."

"There it was: "We did not do this." There is a deep feeling among some senior Bush administration officials that somehow we had not started the Iraq War. We had been attacked. Bin Laden, al Qaeda, the other terrorist and anti-American forces- whether groups or countries or philosophies- could be lumped together. It was one war, the long war, the two-generation war that Wolfowitzs Bletchley Group II had described after 9/11. "You sure its the right war at the right time?" I asked Chairman Pace. "Yes, absolutely," Pace said. "Fundamentally, yes. I said that before we started. And Ill say that today. It may not surprise you to understand that taking my countrys battles to my countrys enemies on their playing field is where I think we should be. To protect my country, to do my oath to my country, and to protect my kids and my grandkids and your kids and your grandkids, I have zero doubt that we have done the right thing."

"In Haigs presence, Kissinger referred pointedly to military men as "dumb, stupid animals to be used" as pawns for foreign policy."

"If so, our posture would be as follows: we published the story and said it was true, but now we are going to nominate it for a Pulitzer — now thats serious business."

"Then there was the ultra-sensitive intelligence gained through the Special Access Programs South Korea allowed the U.S. to run. Trump seemed not to comprehend the value and the necessity. "Like $3.5 billion, 28,000 troops," the president said. He was really hot. "I dont know why theyre there. Lets bring them all home!" "So, Mr. President," Cohn said, "what would you need in the region to sleep well at night?" "I wouldnt need a fucking thing," the president said. "And Id sleep like a baby." Priebus called an end to the meeting. Mattis seemed completely deflated. Trump got up and walked out. All the air seemed to have gone out of Tillerson. He could not abide Trumps attack on the generals. The president was speaking as if the U.S. military was a mercenary force for hire. If a country wouldnt pay us to be there, then we didnt want to be there. As if there were no American interests in forging and keeping a peaceful world order, as if the American organizing principle was money. "Are you okay?" Cohn asked him. "Hes a fucking moron," Tillerson said so everyone heard."

"All good work is done in defiance of management."