George H.W. Bush

When history looks back I'd rather be judged as solving problems and being correct rather than being popular.

To seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.

The White House lashed out at Syria and Iran for the Hezbollah kidnappings of two Israeli soldiers, holding them responsible for 'an unprovoked act of terrorism.'

You know, some in Washington said we had to choose between cutting taxes and cutting the deficit. Today's numbers show that that was a false choice. The economic growth fueled by tax relief has helped send our tax revenues soaring.

Today the Government Accountability Office faulted the Bush administration for mismanagement.

The Bush administration said today all detainees in U.S. military custody, including those at Guantanamo Bay, are entitled to the protections under the Geneva Conventions.

We will be deliberate. Yet, time is not on our side. I will not wait on events while dangers gather. I will not stand by as peril draws closer and closer.

We'll be deliberate. Yet time is not on our side. I will not wait on events while dangers gather. I will not stand by as peril draws closer and closer.

The problem with diplomacy, it takes a while to get something done. If you're acting alone, you can move quickly.

When you're rallying world opinion and trying to, you know, come up with the right language at the United Nations to send a clear signal, it takes a while.

These problems didn't arise overnight, and they don't get solved overnight. It takes a while.

Because it takes time to get things done.

You can't be successful if the United States is sitting at the table alone with North Korea.

And, so, I think we have got to plan for the worst and hope for the best.

And my message was that we want to solve this problem diplomatically, and the best way to solve the problem diplomatically is for all of us to be working in concert.

Diplomacy takes a while. Particularly when you're dealing with a variety of partners, and so we're spending time diplomatically making sure that voice is unified.

And it's just really important for -- for the American president to see the world the way it is, not the way we would hope it would be, and to deal with threats and to do so in a way that will achieve results.

We're dealing with a person who was asked not fire a rocket by the Chinese, the South Koreans, the United States, the Japanese, and the Russians. And he fired seven of them.

I think he wants us to either fear him or pay attention to him. I view it as an opportunity.

We need to send another signal. We need to speak with one voice.

I'm convinced the strategy we've got is the best way to solve this problem.

I think the best way to solve this problem diplomatically is for there to be other nations around the table with us.

I view this as an opportunity to remind the international community that -- that we must work together. It is much more effective to have more than one nation dealing with North Korea. It's -- it's more effective for them to hear from a…

Very friendly relationship. He's a good friend. How close our relationship is. He's a good buddy.

I knew he loved Elvis. I didn't realize how much he loved Elvis.