Elizabeth McCord quotes from Madam Secretary

A good President accomplishes two, maybe three things that move the country forward. An excellent President, maybe four. I think you'll be an excellent President.

Elizabeth

Thank you, sir. But what does that have to do with Fossor?

You can spend your Presidency fighting this. But before you do, make sure this is really what's important to you, because it will consume your entire Presidency.

Elizabeth

You okay?

Henry

Yeah, I'm just trying to wrap my head around normalizing the number of dead children that is acceptable.

Just because history repeats itself doesn't mean we have to keep making the same mistakes, not if people are willing to fight for something better. It takes time and courage to step outside our comfort zone and forge new paths.

Elizabeth

Yes sir, but the end result is always worth it.

Elizabeth

There were no easy choices then. Deaths under Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot numbered in the hundreds, whether by privation or outright murder. How could we not push back against that?

I guess you're right, but my God we made some horrible decisions. Myself included. Sandino Junior might not have turned out be such a monster if we hadn't killed his mother.

Elizabeth

I'm out of moves. If you have any ideas, I'm open to them.

You might not like it, but you did say you'd try anything.

The story of how the US Secretary of State has kidnapped an Afghani girl and held her in the embassy is all over the news. Until the girl is released, this deal is on hold.

Elizabeth

You don't want to do that. This deal is important for both our countries, not to mention that there's 10 billion in aid on the table.

The Taliban will seize the opportunity to paint my government as weak. They will take over and we will again be mired in war and terrorism.

Matt

I'm sorry, ma'am.

Elizabeth

No, don't beat yourself up. You couldn't have known.

Matt

I know the culture. And I know there are cameras everywhere now.

I don't know what to do.

Elizabeth

Declare martial law, get everyone to staging points and follow instructions.

I don't know what to say.

Elizabeth

The truth, even when it hurts.

Elizabeth

I'm not your puppet. If I see a chance to change the paradigm, I'm going to take it.

Mike

Why can't you trust me?

Elizabeth

Because I'm not a politician.

Mike

And that's why you're going to lose.

Elizabeth

Okay. Disengaging in 3...2...1.

Henry

Whoa. The countdown. I haven't heard that since Jason went to summer camp.

Elizabeth

I don't know how to do this.

What?

Elizabeth

Run for President and be a wife and mother.

Elizabeth

I want to send her some flowers. Something that says...

Nina

Sorry you got shot, glad you didn't die?

Henry

Yeah. Okay. I'll let her in.

Elizabeth

No, no, no. no, I'll let her in. You two have to go upstairs.

Henry

Oh, that's right. Stevie! Time to go into exile.

Elizabeth

Well, that is straight up defamation.

Mike

No, this is good. That means they have nothing in their oppo file if they're making stuff up this early unless they're not making it up... which We'll talk later.

Elizabeth

They're making it up, Mike.

Elizabeth

"She's not likable." "I don't want to have a beer with her." (sighs) "I hate her voice." I mean, those are things that I was ready for, but "she slept her way to the top."? What century are we in?

Henry

It just means they're terrified.

Elizabeth

No. This works, Henry. This taps right into America's id. And it works with women just as well as men.