Letitia Baldrige

“We have a lot of societal problems that we have to fix in the 1990s.”

“Administrations had come and gone in Pennsylvania Avenue, but many old entertaining traditions had survived - thru habit and not thru merit.”

“Jeans of any sort should not be worn in nice restaurants. They pollute the landscape. They should also not be worn in the workplace if no other workers wear them. However, if your office is casual, go for it.”

“The Kennedys tried to avoid using the big U-shaped table, but when they couldn't, they had several tricks - including keeping the flowers simple - to keep it from appearing overly stiff and formal.”

“I have grandchildren who are going to need every cent I make.”

“For years, people have re-dialed when the line was busy. They waited their turn. When I'm put on hold, I always hope that as my revenge, their other call will be someone wanting to sell them something.”

“Doubleday is used to my talking about manners because I am, after all, known for that, and that's my persona.”

“The First Lady has a lot of power. I hope Hillary Clinton realizes that.”

“I don't care what your politics are, I would wager that if you asked any American woman which administration would she have most liked to work for as social secretary, she would pick Jacqueline Kennedy's White House as the place to be.”

“Business colleagues who have not seen each other for a long time but who have a good relationship can always shake hands warmly and grab each other's right upper arm or shoulder with their free left hand. Men and women executives should not kiss each other in public.”

“I've had three broken legs and two knee replacements. But I'm very good at apres golf.”

“When you pass 70, you forget your enemies. You think about the nice people instead.”

“The polished executive is ultimately the happy executive who can walk gracefully through life.”

“At tea time, all the noise, greed and aggressiveness of the '80s can be drowned out. For 45 minutes, anyway.”

“I think that what we should do is have short, clipped conversations on the telephone so someone can always get us, not talking about inane stuff and having someone trying to get you. I also think we've just got to be more sensitive toward other people and not call them at night if you know they've been working.”

“Manners are nothing more than thinking about somebody else.”

“It's stylish to have people over. But unstylish to make them bring food. It's so tacky, making everybody appear at the door with a dish. Better to order in, use a caterer or bring prepared food into your kitchen.”

“There are major CEOs who do not know how to hold a knife and fork properly, but I don't worry about that as much as the lack of kindness.”

“If you take five taxis a day, one driver will be nasty, and the other four are perfectly nice. You remember the nasty one. But you should remember the four who were nice.”

“Before the Kennedys were elected, there had been older Presidents. Then here was this devastatingly attractive young couple with two beautiful children. They were so intelligent, graceful, gracious and funny. They enjoyed life so much. That's what caught America's eye.”