When I walked through the gate, Universal quit building actors. All of a sudden, I was doing leading roles. I knew I was a tyro, but they told me to shut up and act.

Sure, I travel. I went to Washington to negotiate a $1 billion prepayment to Mexico on its oil revenues to help it out of its financial crisis.

Some of those early roles were unactable. Even Laurence Olivier couldn't have done anything with them. The dialog ran to cardboard passages such as, 'I love you. You can rely on me, darling. I'll wait.' It was all I could do to keep from adding, 'With egg on my face.'

We have affirmed the principle that a mature relationship between nations - as between individuals - can only flourish in an atmosphere of mutual respect.