It didn't happen under my administration. It happened under me.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- The speaker distinguishes between the formal government structure and their personal presence, implying responsibility rests with the individual.
- In plain terms
- Events happened while I was in charge, not just under the official title.
- What can you take from it?
- Personal responsibility exists alongside official titles.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Where does personal responsibility end and institutional begin?
- Does the title define the action or the person?
Another view
It can be interpreted as shifting blame to the system while claiming credit.
More from Bill Clinton
Today, future belongs to freedom, not to fear.
Permalink to quote #45 Bill Clinton is generally viewed as one smart politician, having been twice elected the President, helped by lackluster Robert Dole, having survived the Lewins…
Permalink to quote #47 I think the country could be spared a lot of agony and the government could worry about inflation and a lot of other problems if [Nixon would] go on and resign…
Permalink to quote #44
Related quotes
Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.
Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan quote #2 I take responsibility for the election itself.
John EdwardsJohn Edwards quote #11 If the nation only knew their hands dripped with innocent blood, it would have met them not with applause but with stones.
Georgy ZhukovGeorgy Zhukov quote #15