The most important aspect of the relationship between the president and the secretary of state is that they both understand who is president.

Acheson’s remark underscores the constitutional and practical hierarchy at the top of U.S. foreign-policy making. The secretary of state may be the president’s principal adviser and chief diplomat, but authority ultimately rests with the elected president. The line also hints at the potential for rivalry, overreach, or confusion when a strong secretary becomes a public face of policy or attempts to steer decisions independently. Its dry wit functions as a warning: effective diplomacy requires candor and influence, but also disciplined deference to presidential direction. In that sense, the quote is less about personal ego than about clarity of command and accountability in executive governance.