“In the early days of the republic, the secretary of state was the heir...” — H. W. Brands Quote

“In the early days of the republic, the secretary of state was the heir apparent to the president. Presidents could easily hand-pick their party's next candidate. The party caucuses formally selected the candidates, but presidents guided the process.”

“You can always find people, ordinary people, who will support your particular view, so it becomes a politics of personality, especially at the presidential level. People often go for somebody that they like or somebody that they can identify with.”

“Our love for the Founders leads us to abandon, and even to betray, the very principles they fought for.”

“I feel like it's always a good sign when you find yourself talking for hours about every topic ever. It's best when you just find the person interesting for no apparent reason.”

“When you are committed to living a life in service to the most high, the choices to be great, to serve and be served, to love and be loved are apparent.”

“At a certain age it just became apparent to me that this was probably the work that I would have to do.”