James Baker quotes

James Baker is an American statesman and attorney, widely recognized for his service as White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of State. His leadership shaped U.S. foreign policy during the late 20th century, especially at the end of the Cold War. He continues to be respected for his diplomatic skill and political influence. Here are 9 of his quotes:

My view is that you don't just talk to your friends. You talk to your enemies, as well. And the diplomacy involves talking to your enemies. You don't reward your enemies necessarily, by talking to them if you're tough and you know what you're doing. You don't appease them. Talking to an enemy is not, in my view, appeasement. I made 15 trips to Syria in 1990-1991 at a time when Syria was on the list of countries who are state sponsors of terrorism. And the 16th trip, guess what? Lo and behold, Syria changed 25 years of policy and agreed for the first time in history to come sit at the table with Israel, which is what Israel wanted at the time. And, thereby, implicitly recognized Israel's right to exist. Now, all I'm saying is that would never have happened if we hadn't been sufficiently dedicated that we were going to keep at it. (James Baker)
Sometimes you move publicly, sometimes privately. Sometimes quietly, sometimes at the top of your voice. View quote
James Baker
Sometimes an active policy is best advanced by doing nothing until the right time - or never. View quote
James Baker
This is what happens, when, for the first time in modern history, a candidate resorts to lawsuits to try to overturn the outcome of an election for president. View quote
James Baker
I understand personally that it is frustrating to lose presidential elections by narrow margins. View quote
James Baker
"You must tell them that there must be a new union or there will be chaos," he [Shevardnadze] implored me. That evening, when I hosted republic leaders for dinner - a mixed group of presidents, prime ministers, and foreign ministers - I saw around the table and in the conversation a microcosm of the post-coup Soviet Union's potential - and its problems. Whatever euphoria that they felt with their post-putsch independence declarations had given way to a marked degree of realism. "Independence sounds nice, but we have to live, and we have to be practical," observed the Prime Minister of Moldova, Valeriu Muravsky. That was the persistent theme that I heard from every one of the republic leaders, with the sole exception of the Georgian Prime Minister, Vissarion Gugushvili, though even he spoke of the need for economic cooperation once Georgian independence was recognized internationally. View quote
James Baker
You don't need to know who's playing on the White House tennis court to be a good president. View quote
James Baker
When you have energy companies like Shell and British Petroleum, both of which are perhaps represented in this room, saying there is a problem with excess carbon dioxide emission, I think we ought to listen. View quote
James Baker
Never let the other fellow set the agenda. View quote
James Baker