Leadership, autobiography by Rudolph Giuliani: on Homeland Security

Ronald Reagan: Dealt with Soviets but insisted on verification with teeth

Ronald Reagan exemplified the best way to approach such situations. His refusal to award trust that hadn't been earned changed the nature of our country's relationship with the Soviet Union. Over arms control, he insisted on verification; he wouldn't take the Soviets at their word because it would have been reckless to have done so. The Soviet Union wasn't entitled to that civility. Reagan forced the Soviets to make concessions up front before the United States made any in return. We know we're going to live up to any treaty. We have laws and protocols that ensure it, and our culture demands it. That wasn't true of the Soviet Union. Reagan insisted on inspection mechanisms with teeth, of the kind that previous administrations might have refused to pursue to completion.

Rudy Giuliani: Led New York City through the events of 9/11

While mayor, I made it my policy to see with my own eyes the scene of every crisis so I could evaluate it firsthand. As shocking as this crash was, we had actually planned for just such a catastrophe. My administration had built a state-of-the-art command center on the 23rd floor of 7 WTC, just north of the twin towers. So that's where we headed.

My first assumption was that it was some nut flying a small plane. Then the 2nd plane hit. All I saw was a big flash of fire. This convinced us it was terrorism.

I immediately devised two priorities. We had to set up a new command center [further from the twin towers]. And we had to find a way to communicate with people in the city. [We spent the day accomplishing those two priorities, which continued 24/7 for several days.]

Rudy Giuliani: We're right and terrorists are wrong--as simple as that

On 9/11, NYC was viciously attacked in an unprovoked act of war. This was an attack on the very idea of a free, inclusive, & civil society.

Because of our principles--particularly our religious, political, & economic freedoms--we find ourselves under attack by terrorists. Our freedom threatens them, because they know that if our ideas of freedom gain a foothold among their people it will destroy their power.

There is no room for neutrality on the issue of terrorism You're either with civilization or with terrorists. On one side is democracy, the rule of law, & respect for human life; on the other is tyranny, arbitrary executions, & mass murder. We're right & they're wrong--it's as simple as that.

Rudy Giuliani: Deal with untrustworthy negotiators by getting it in writing

Ronald Reagan exemplifie the best way to approach such situations. Reagan forced the Soviets to make concessions up front before the US made any in return.

In politics--in any organization--you must apply to institutional decisions the wisdom acquired from individual relationships, because institutions are largely just reflections of individual behavior. Sometimes in negotiations you want a particular result so badly that you become soft-headed about the likelihood of the other side living up to its end of the deal.

Rudy Giuliani: Would personally execute Bin Laden for attacking NYC

I told him, "If you catch this guy, Bin Laden, I would like to be the one to execute him." I am sure he thought I was just speaking rhetorically, but I was serious. Bin Laden had attacked my city and as its mayor I had the strong feeling that I was the most appropriate person to do it.