H. W. Brands Quotes

H. W. Brands

Profession : Historian

Birth : August 7, 1953

The American political system is based on the president taking the initiative and Congress responding. With President Trump, it's been the opposite.

H. W. Brands

When a president doesn't know the policy, it doesn't make for a very effective leader.

H. W. Brands

It's hard to say that Trump actually has a health care policy.

H. W. Brands

Theodore Roosevelt, when he was out of office, he would do things to draw attention. But when you are president, you don't need to shout. When you are in office, you are the story.

H. W. Brands

In the business arena, the standard rules of morality don't apply. What we're really looking for is efficiency. It doesn't do anyone any good to be nice to the weak. In a certain sense, competition is inefficient.

H. W. Brands

On style points alone, Donald Trump makes GWB look magnificently presidential.

H. W. Brands

Although this should not be so, historians reconsider presidencies based on how the presidents conduct themselves after leaving office.

H. W. Brands

George W. Bush has shown himself to be a decent guy, not exploiting his former office to make top dollars giving speeches.

H. W. Brands

President Obama ran a campaign in 2008 that was entirely expected from a non-incumbent. You promise, and you imply that if you elect me, everything good is going to happen.

H. W. Brands

If the incumbent or his party has been discredited sufficiently, the challenger can run a successful, content-free campaign.

H. W. Brands

If you put on the military uniform, you're a prima facie hero. Generals are the epitome of that. They're the ones who have been most successful at the soldier's trade.

H. W. Brands

If you wanted to, you could write history in Haiku.

H. W. Brands

The shelf life of a seventh-year State of the Union address is about five minutes. Presidents can propose stuff. They're probably not likely to get it done.

H. W. Brands

You might say presidents are drafting the first chapter of their memoirs in these seventh-year State of the Union addresses. They're trying to get the public and the media to think about their presidencies in the way that they would like to have them thought of.

H. W. Brands

I cannot think of a president or administration that has taken seriously the 100 days.

H. W. Brands

In modern times, the American military has become more bureaucratised.

H. W. Brands

President Trump is doing what he can to act decisively. And if there's one thing most people have in mind in distinguishing the business world from the political world is that the CEO of a business can act decisively.

H. W. Brands

In some ways, I would be absolutely fascinated if Trump gets elected.

H. W. Brands

There is a certain kind of sobering, civilizing effect that being president imposes on people. There is a certain kind of dignity with which you comport yourself. As an observer of the presidency, I have to wonder if Trump would follow that pattern.

H. W. Brands

Every work of history is a combination of argument and narrative. The longer I write, the more I emphasize the narrative, the story, and the less attention I give to the argument. Arguments come and go.

H. W. Brands