Hoover InstitutionStanford University
Chapter One: Boot Camp Wisdom

Published October 03, 2019

George Shultz sits down with Hoover Research Fellow Bill Whalen to discuss “boot camp wisdom.” When individuals act inconsistently or without core principals, they lose authority and integrity. Making empty threats in foreign affairs is even more dangerous because it not only threatens national security, but also destroys hard-earned credibility.

Video Recorded: August 20, 2018

Discussion Questions

  1. What are the disadvantages of making empty threats?
  2. What kind of policies are needed to control climate change?

Additional Resources

  • You can read George Shultz’s chapter, “In Brief: A World Awash in Change,” in Blueprint for America. Available here. 
  • You can find the rest of “Blueprint for America” here. 
  • Read “The Danger Of Empty Threats” by George P. Shultz, available here.

Cast

George P. Shultz

George P. Shultz

Related

Videos

Monetary Policy And The Shadow Open Market Committee Since The 1970s

Mickey Levy on his early career working with Alice Rivlin at the Congressional Budget Office and with Arthur Burns at AEI, as well as being part of the Shadow Open Markets Committee from its early days in the 1970s.

October 16, 2026

Videos

The Enduring Influence Of Thomas Sowell

From politics and economics to journalism and culture, leading voices reflect on how Thomas Sowell’s ideas shaped their thinking and continue to inspire new generations.

October 15, 2026

Articles

Why Europe Is Burning

[Subscription Required] Young Europeans are taking to the streets in Paris, Madrid, and Brussels. They say they want more investment in schools and housing. They should be protesting a system rigged for their grandparents.

October 12, 2026