John W. Snow Quotations

We are seeing a tremendous outpouring of the American spirit, ... That is our indication that this program will be utilized and have a desirable effect.

We believe that more financial flexibility is in the best interests of our shareholders and will increase the company's value over the long term,

What we're dealing with in Iraq are not two-and-a-half weeks of conflict, but two-and-a-half decades of misrule and mismanagement, and there's a major reconstruction product that has to go on there,

Moderation of oil prices would be very, very welcome. But overall I think we are in a position of stable growth, sustainable growth, and basically with inflation in check.

China can quickly move forward with further liberalization of its financial services sector by allowing foreign securities firms to establish wholly owned subsidiaries, and by expanding the scope of products securities firms can offer,

I have many private conversations with Chairman Greenspan and we never reveal what we talk about. So I don't want to break my rule.

If it isn't dealt with, there's a real price to be paid in terms of ... confidence in the government.

We support the strong dollar. We think the value of currencies are best set in open currency markets,

Hopefully this is a low point for us, ... We simply aren't getting the railroad fixed at the rate we should.

I agree with the Treasury's interpretation that dividends to shareholders and share buybacks are not permissible uses of repatriated funds, ... I am also of the view that the statutory language makes it clear that the repatriated monies are to be used for domestic job growth, not for laying off employees or settling lawsuits.

I would think that next month we would see better numbers,

I think the bubble is a gross misnomer,

I think we'll be successful with the quiet financial diplomacy,

I think we need to rise above partisan politics on this one,

Resolving that, I think, will be very beneficial for the economy. We're already seeing it in lower energy prices,

I was here when the cemetery was dedicated last fall. We had a good turnout then and a good turnout now. I'm so impressed with the cemetery that I'm going to pick out a plot for myself.

We continue to have a strong dollar policy; we continue to support the strong dollar policy. It's been our policy and will continue to be our policy.

Well, I'm not going to review here all the candidates that are on the list, but I will attest to my admiration for Bono, ... He's somebody I admire. He does a lot of good in this world of economic development...he understands the give and take of development. He's very pragmatic, effective and idealistic.

We have been taking a very close look at its lines of business and believe there is a clear opportunity to unlock more value by running Sea-Land's three key components as distinct profit centers.

We can afford an increase in the deficit for a year or so,

We're not going to have numbers to write home about in the first quarter, although they will show improvement, ... The first quarter will continue to have some residue from the difficulties of the fourth quarter, but nothing of the magnitude. We're starting to get our arms around it.

We recognize that the deficit matters, that we need to keep on a path to cut the deficit in half.

The deficit - the U.S. knows our deficit is too large. We are committed to bringing it down. We are bringing it down. The deficit came in for fiscal year '05 at considerably below where it was the prior year.

The deficits are modest, manageable, and will recede to zero,

Well, the U.S. is running a current account deficit; we are creating lots of investment opportunities in the United States that exceed our own domestic savings rates, so the issue here is to encourage higher savings rates in the United States.

We will continue to look hard at the situation and try and evaluate whether or not sufficient progress is being made,

We would expect some continuing moderation in the energy market, ... But it's clear the United States has to be less dependent on supplies from abroad.

To say we have a roadmap would be too grandiose a characterization, ... We do have a long list of things that are being worked on that we're suggesting need to be dealt with.

The President I know is one who is fully engaged, who does ask tough questions, who pesters me all the time with questions.

When we talk about our housing market, we're really talking about hundreds of housing markets, each with different characteristics, in local markets,

We need to get sober-minded people looking at the facts and realizing that if we wait it becomes impossible to deal with the situation,

to allow market forces to set exchange rates, to let the fundamentals of the marketplace drive exchange rate changes.

Completion of this transaction strengthens our balance sheet, increases shareholder value and allows us to focus more of our energies on our core railroad business,

These results are disappointing. Our rail and container-shipping businesses are taking steps to regain earnings momentum by lowering costs and improving efficiency,

a very important idea ... which would help deal with the whole issue of long-term sustainability of the Social Security system.

You want the currency to be a good store of value, ... You want it to be something people are willing to hold.

It may be harder on some than on others, but overall the banking sector remains healthy and strong,

It's gratifying to see our persistence and commitment pay off,

It's up to the Treasury Department to take the report, review it carefully, understand the implications and use the report as a starting place for recommendations that we will make to the president,

The banking sector overall remains healthy and strong.

It's important that competitive balance be a part of the final outcome,

It's clear the potential of the financial sector to play a larger role in the economy is enormous,

It offers the opportunity for far-reaching structural reforms, ... We trust and hope that the measure will be successful.

Social Security represents an $11 trillion unfunded obligation. And when I say unfunded obligation, I mean we have to come up with $11 trillion at some point to make the system whole.

Inflation is still pretty well in check. We do have energy prices that are unwelcome, too high. I hope Congress can take some action on that.

I don't think they will derail the economy but they are a burden on the economy,

You don't fix the problem until you define it.

And we have abundant natural energy resources in the country. We haven't been taking adequate advantage of them, and we can burn coal in a clean way; we could improve the grid.

Well, I think the best thing we can do for the short term is move good energy legislation through to the Congress; I'm encouraged that there's some prospect for that now.

Well, I think the global economy is in the position for continuing good growth with inflation well in check.

And one of our points of continuing conversation with our trading partners is the urgency of their taking steps to remove barriers to their improved growth performance.

Everybody you talk to about insurance says the insurance market has become a lot more vibrant as a result of lifting, allowing the foreign direct investment.

And I think the American people look to the leaders to lead. They look to the leaders to take on the big problems. And the president deserves a lot of credit for doing that.

Higher energy prices act like a tax. They reduce the disposable income people have available for other things after they've paid their energy bills.

We must start with the reality that corporations cannot guarantee anyone a lifetime job any more than corporations have a guarantee of immortality.

Our view is that economic isolationism is the wrong way to go. Vibrant, successful growing economies that advance the interests of their citizens engage the global economy. And, we're committed to engaging the global economy.

Telecom is a dramatic success in India and our view is, respecting the political process, and respecting the fact that these are sovereign decisions, is that, approaching India as a friend.

I think we'll build a consensus for action on Social Security reform which will reduce that long-term unfunded obligation and put the system on a sustainable basis.

We promote domestic savings by also things like the personal accounts associated with the president's Social Security initiative, which over time would generate more savings.

Higher energy prices act like a tax.

We have the deepest and most liquid capital markets in the world.

Well, I make a practice of not commenting on the role of the relative exchange value of our currency.

We have a serious structural deficit problem. And it needs to be addressed. The president is trying to address it through reforms of Social Security, but the problem is there with other entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

We have to keep our eye on inflation, but so far inflation remains reasonably in check on the global stage.

Well, there's no doubt about the fact that, that higher energy prices lead to greater conservation, greater energy efficiency, and they also, of course, play a useful role on the supply side.

We're focused on doing the things that make the economy perform well, and as you do that, reduce deficits, for one, very important; secondly, keep growth rates high, very important.

We have the most flexible and adaptive economy. Making sure we sustain the ability of the American economy to perform well is really the priority of economic policy.

But clearly an economy that's growing and expanding like this one - and it certainly is doing that with high GDP output, employment numbers strong, capacity utilization strong - that's an environment in which the Fed needs to continually be alert to early signs of inflation.

We can get more energy out of the north slope of Alaska; we have available the ability to make ourselves less dependent on those uncertain sources of supply from the Middle East. And it's important we do that.

Our GDP growth rates are creating - our high GDP growth rates, the success of our economy means we're creating lots of disposable income.

The initial steps by China to increase its exchange rate flexibility played an important part in this decision,

a lot better than current law. Sure, it's a step in the right direction. We'd like to see it go further. But it's a big step in the right direction.

the hostile Norfolk Southern bid is burdened with a series of significant conditions.

The important thing here is that we build a constructive relationship with China and with our other trading partners,

And our big theme has been, you have made so much progress, we urge you on with the openings and market openings that have occurred. They clearly work and continuing on that path will produce further growth and further opportunities for the Indian people.

The global economy is in pretty good shape.

The development and use of hybrid vehicles is a key step toward reducing gasoline consumption, emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. I commend the manufacturers who are making these energy-efficient and environment-friendly vehicles and hope that the President's energy bill proves to be an important step in their rising prominence on American roads.