“On ships they call them barnacles; in business they attach themselves to desks and are called vice presidents.” PresidentVicesShipsDesksVice PresidentBarnacles Author:Fred Allen
“It is a great mistake for presidents and other leading executives of organizations having branches throughout the country to chain themselves to their desks at headquarters and send out rigid instructions to those in charge of distant branches and offices. Because a man sits in a palatial office in New York or Chicago or Philadelphia or Detroit and draws a big salary, it does not necessarily follow that he knows better than the man on the spot what ought to be done.... Paul, Caesar, Napoleon did not merely sit at home and issue long-range instructions.” KnowsMenLongDoeCountryDoneHomeBigsPresidentMistakeIssuesNew YorkHe ManOughtOfficeDrawsOrganizationSpotsChainsRangeBranchesExecutivesChicagoInstructionDesksSalaryDetroitPhiladelphiaGreat MistakesHeadquarters Author:B. C. Forbes
“CIA Director George Tenet has now testified before the 9/11 commission and he said we are still making the same dumb mistakes, like leaving memos on the President's desk.” SaidStillsPresidentMistakeDirectorsLeavingDumbDesksLeaving MeCiaMemos Author:David Letterman
“Responsibility always stops at the president's desk.” PresidentResponsibilityDesks Author:John McCain
“We need a president who will lead with a stronger, more consistent foreign policy. We also need our commander in chief to put more faith in military leadership who have all of the combat experience. It’s bad policy to try to micromanage too much operationally and tactically from a desk in the Oval Office.” NeedsTryingPresidentToo MuchMilitaryPolicyOfficeStrongerChiefsConsistentCombatForeign PolicyDesksCommandersCommander In ChiefOvalMilitary Leadership Author:Lee Zeldin