Tradecraft > Words of Wisdom

Richard Boucher

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• If you don't want to see it in print, don't say it.

• Good guidance can explain the issue to your mother.

• Talk about results. If you don't have results, talk policy. If you don't have policy talk facts. If you don't have facts, talk process. You always have process.

• Le enigma sono tre, la morte una — Puccini, Turandot. Loosely translated: They get three questions; you screw one up, you're dead.

• Know the difference between what you think you know and what you know you know. Talk only about what you know you know.

• If it is good news, the White House gets it.

• Everyone who writes for the spokesman should spend an hour at the podium, or at least five minutes in front of a mirror.

• It's better to be right than fast. You can't be both.

• If you don't have news, offer good food or a good place to visit.

• Quote Matt Bahr, placekicker for the Giants: “Rather than withhold information, I'd prefer not to say anything.”

• You can say anything you want, but some things only once.​​