President Nemerov Quotes in The Sum of All Fears (2002)

[over the Hot Line, after the carrier attack]

President Nemerov: [in Russian] I ordered no such attack. You must not respond to this action until we have investigated all possibilities.

President Fowler: Like you did in Chechnya? Mr. President, who is in control of your armed forces?

President Nemerov: [in Russian] You dropped the bomb on Hiroshima. You dropped the bomb on Nagasaki. Do not lecture me on Chechnya!

[after an unpleasant silence, after Jack unintentionally and indirectly insulted Nemerov]

President Nemerov: [to Cabot, about Ryan] I like him.

Bill Cabot: In that case, so do I.

President Nemerov: For you to get involved here, its like sleeping with another mans wife... and what you are suggesting is that afterwards they all live together under the same roof... but what really happens is that the betrayed husband goes out and buys a gun.

President Nemerov: [to his aids and advisors] I can't stop what I did not start.

President Nemerov: [referring to his defectors] Just disappear them. Their execution would tell the world I didn't have control. These days, better to appear guilty than impotent.

NAOC Hotline Operator: Oh my God... Mr. President!

[Fowler looks at the screen]

President Nemerov: [Over the hotline] On my order, Russian strategic forces are standing down.

President Nemerov: [after signing the treaty] Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal.