Mary McGrory

“He has the special gift of transmitting his own character defects to those who are supposed to be prosecuting him.”

“If you're a reporter, the easiest thing in the world is to get a story.”

“War is a series of catastrophes which result in a victory.”

“Good-looking people with strong physical attractions are better off than homely ones. The beautiful people are better liked and get the best jobs and opportunities. Nothing you can do about it.”

“Washington is a city of locker-room boys, and all the old cronies, the insiders, fall into the same patterns. I'm an outsider. I've always been an outsider.”

“You can't cover a war and not be an activist.”

“People who work in the White House are spoiled, and they view any criticism as treason.”

“I'm Irish. I think about death all the time.”

“Every reporter is a hope-to-be-novelist.”

“Political conventions are an exercise in mass hypnotism.”

“My formula for success is to be an Irish-Catholic Democrat with a sense of humor.”

“Writing is a lonely business. You're on your own, and you have to be disciplined.”

“The modern definition of a good report is one that makes you feel good about yourself. We're all so insecure, we need that.”

“What you have to do is break all the rules.”