Dr. Kissinger wraps up his book with some pragmatic advice for the WH policy-making processes. Among the general guidelines are a clear purpose, a thought-through analysis of consequences, and the fine art of striking the right balance between gathering information and acting before it’s too late.
President Ford discusses Vietnam with Kissinger, Martin, General Wayland and Scowcroft.
From his memoirs in Years of Renewal:
..
Because our Constitution confers extraordinary powers on the President, there can be no absolute rules as to how policy should be formulated or conducted; some scope must be left for the chief executive’s personality and psychological makeup. Nevertheless, I would distill certain general principles from what I have observed or studied.
