“As a politician, you have to deal with someone wanting you to fail every day. I think I prefer being in a situation where generally people are rooting for me, and if they aren't rooting for me, they aren't out there to see my downfall. I respect the people who have the stomach for it.”

“I started reading the big histories and the small histories, the memoirs and so forth. At some point, I found the diary of William E. Dodd.”