Jack Ryan quotes from Clear and Present Danger (1994)

View Quote Jack Ryan: I didn't sign up for this. This is someone's bullshit political agenda. Who authorized this? Cutter?
Ritter: Cutter couldn't tie his own shoes without permission.
Jack Ryan: If I go down you're coming with me.
Ritter: Wrong again. I have an *autographed get-out-of-jail-free card*! "The President of the United States authorizes Deputy Director of the CIA Robert Ritter to conduct 'Operation Reciprocity' including all necessary funding and support. This action is deemed important to the national security of the United States etcetera, etcetera, etcetera." You don't have one of these, do you Jack?
[as Ryan walks away] Ritter: Gray! The world is gray, Jack!

View Quote The President: So go down there, establish it.
Jack Ryan: Go down where?
The President: Colombia.
Jack Ryan: Who, me?

View Quote [On whether Jack should investigate the growing scandal]
Admiral Greer: You know what you think about when you’re lying here. You know you’re going to die. You think it’s alright. You lived a long time. You had a family that loved you. You had a job that you thought made a difference, that you thought was honorable. And then you see this. [looking at photos showing complicit activity by Ritter]
Jack Ryan: I'm afraid if I dig any deeper no-one's going to like what I find."
Admiral Greer: You took an oath, if you recall, when you first came to work for me. And I don't mean to the National Security Advisor of the United States, I mean to his boss... and I don't mean the President. You gave your word to his boss: you gave your word to the people of the United States. Your word is who you are.

View Quote Ritter: Jack, computer theft is a serious crime.
[hangs up the phone] Jack Ryan: [to himself] So are crimes against the Constitution.

View Quote Jack Ryan: You're going to jail, pal!
Ritter: [seeing Ryan holding a piece of paper] What is that? What is it you *think* you have there?
Jack Ryan: You broke the law.
Ritter: You are such a Boy Scout! You see everything in black and white!
Jack Ryan: No, no, no! Not black and white Ritter, right and wrong!

View Quote [Jack needs a helicopter]
Jack Ryan: I'm here to rent the Huey.
Helicopter owner: We don't rent it anymore, but it is for sale.
Jack Ryan: How much?
Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.
Jack Ryan: Uh, my pilot and I will have to take it for a test drive.
Helicopter owner: Of course, you just have to leave a deposit.
Jack Ryan: How much is that?
Helicopter owner: Two million dollars.
Jack Ryan: Umm...
[Shows a CIA business card]
Jack Ryan: Would you take a company check?

View Quote Clark: Hey, get out of my chopper!
Jack Ryan: No, no - my chopper.
[Hands Clark receipt]

View Quote The President: How dare you come in here and lecture me!
Jack Ryan: How dare you, sir!
The President: How dare you come into this office and bark at me like some little junkyard dog? I am the President of the United States!

View Quote The President: [on who gets punished for 'Reciprocity'] You'll take the blame. Cutter and Ritter will take some too, but it won't amount to much. They'll get a slap on the wrist and $20,000 an hour on the lecture circuit. The rest, you'll dump on Greer. Yes, you'll take him down with you. You'll destroy his reputation. But it won't go any further than that. It's the ol' Potomac two-step, Jack.
Jack Ryan: I'm sorry, Mr. President, I don't dance.

View Quote Jack Ryan: [confronting Ritter on "Reciprocity"] Why was I kept out if it?
Ritter: You weren't kept out of it, you're NECK DEEP in it! You went before Congress and you got the money for it!

View Quote Jack Ryan: Who authorized this?
Ritter: I'm sure they'll ask you that.
Jack Ryan: Who authorized it?
Ritter: I have no recollection, Senator