One of the more difficult tasks for me as president was to decide on the issue of confirming capital punishment awarded by courts... to my surprise... almost all cases which were pending had a social and economic bias.
All wars signify the failure of conflict resolution mechanisms, and they need post-war rebuilding of faith, trust and confidence.
The Negro was a political football between his former slave master and Northern political adventurers. The economic basis of this contest was the power to tax, to float bonds, to award franchise: in short, to gain control over the financial resources of the newly organized States.
I am the kind of person who does not like to carry baggage. In fact, I don't go back and listen to my own music. I believe in closing chapters and moving forward. That's what gives me peace.
I compose music for films, and by the grace of God, I've got a few awards. That's it.
I acquired a hunger for fairy tales in the dark days of blackout and blitz in the Second World War.
I am not sure how much good is done by moralising about fairy tales. This can be unsubtle - telling children that virtue will be rewarded, when in fact it is mostly simply the fact of being the central character that ensures a favourable outcome. Fairy tales are not, on the whole, parables.
When I was a child - in wartime, pre-television - books were my life.
I stay true to myself and my style, and I am always pushing myself to be aware of that and be original.
For me, acting is not a job. It is something I love. I don't do these things for awards or rewards. I do them because I love challenges.
