Quote

There's always a risk when the candidate becomes president: Will he deliver what is expected of him?

The no-secrets era of social media makes one consider the built-in risk factor of nominating high-testosterone men to positions of power at all. Everyone is under too much scrutiny now to take a chance on candidates who suddenly blow up into a comic meme, a punchline, a ribald hashtag.

There's no question I'm going to do everything within the normal political bounds to make sure we don't nominate Donald Trump. I think he would be terribly unfit for office.

In general, any incoming administration must carefully examine ('vet') its nominees for high public office.

There is a need for a vision that's compelling and uplifting, especially in a time when people are worried. At the same time, in this era, hard work and lofty rhetoric are not going to compel you to the presidency.

As I look at President Bush, I think he will ultimately be judged as a man of extremely high character.

I'm terrified at the prospect of Donald Trump becoming president. I think he's disgusting, he's offensive. I think that it would be embarrassing for our country to have him sit down with world leaders and try and have a conference or even take a photo op. So we'll see what happens, but it's a very pivotal time in the U.S.

The politicization of the presidency would pose a real threat to the institution and its function.

The longer the president goes without telling his side of the story, the more unease there will be in the public.

Coming to terms with Donald Trump as the Republican nominee is like being told you have Stage 1 or Stage 2 cancer. You know you'll probably survive, but one way or the other, there's going to be a lot of throwing up.