The whole point of Louis Armstrong is that no one can really figure him out. There was a while where I thought you could try.

Music is a total constant. That's why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in your or the world, that one song says the same, just like that moment.

We go in to liberate Cuba, but Cuba still isn't free; we don't really think through what we'll do after the initial treaty is signed, but we're still occupying. There's chaos and torture and finally an outcry.

While I gave up God a long time ago, I never shook the habit of wanting to believe in something. So I replaced my creed of everlasting life with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

History is full of really good stories. That's the main reason I got into this racket: I want to make the argument that history is interesting.

Assassins and presidents invite the same basic question: Just who do you think you are?