Tom Clancy 1991 Interview (Academy of Achievement) 

3:21 "Not taking the chance, not trying, not going after your dream ... that's something to be afraid of. ... There's one thing in life that scares the hell out of me, and that's turning 65 and looking in a mirror and telling myself 'You should have done that when you had the chance, but you didn't have the guts to try.' " Tom Clancy - dead at 66.

I love the fact that his first, crazy successful novel that made his name and fame was published by an organization that had never published fiction before. Go, U.S. Naval Institute, for going big when you went weird.

A regular guy with an idea. Persistence and courage to see it through. All of us have this in us. There is success inside of you and I. Do something you love! See it through! I've been making model kits since 2015. My website started last April. Whenever I need a confidence boost, I watch Tom and Brian Shul. Thanks, Tom Clancy. You remind all of us what is possible! No sorrier word of mouth or pen than those that say 'It might have been" Now, get off your ass and follow your dream!

Wow, as I was trucking across Utah I had this going. I was about 6 or 7 when this was done, his optimism about the world mightve been high... knowing how the Balkans went a couple years later was a wakeup, but his later novels learn from such. I'm relieved he passed away when he did, I think the ridiculousness of today would dusturb him.

A very humble guy in all reality! He could have come off a lot more smug than most people but he didn't. He really was someone you can still look up to.

How many wise things can you say in one video?

Ugh, looking back on it now, i have to admit that the works of tom clancy probably had some influence on me joining the marines back in 99

The first 20 minutes of this are legendary. I agree with the politics in the second half, but the first part is universally applicable and palatable.

This man had such wisdom... I loved every seconds of it. Rest in peace Mr. Clancy

When my grandfather was alive he said to me that in USSR he was known As Tom Victorovich Clancy. Back then i was in 5th grade and his words didnt make much sence to me back then.

Legend 👊🏽 They don’t make them like this no more Shame on you Ubisoft nowadays Tom Clancy was the Men 👊🏽

Pure genius, a great geostrategist and military historian, not to mention a ebenezer stone of american writing.

Thank you so much for bringing this video.

I met a guy one day and had no idea who he was .. I was the lead carpenter and I was handed the plans to a huge house overlooking The Chesapeake Bay . I was kinda pissed I never had time to review the plans and make a plan myself .. Here's the crew and here's the plans .. I overlooked a huge foundation .. But the view was startling .. All I knew that this house was to be built on an old 80 acre Kampgrounds of America .. Some co-workers were coming in with 10 -15 books at a time .. Who is he ?? all to be autographed .. Who was he ?? They said he was an author and had a movie in production " Hunt for Red October " .. He was the #1 bestseller .. WTF !!! .. Now I was never overwhelmed with his presence on the job .. He was just another guy and I had a task at hand and would always greet him .. Heya Tom .. The boss bought a trailer and kept it on the job .. Most were traveling too far to Calvert County but I lived within 40 miles .. So I drove everyday ... He would stop by the trailer at night and talk to the workers .. Just a regular guy .. .. I screwed up the frame on his front door and had to move a lot of framing without embarassing myself .. I rigged it and shifted massive amounts of framing in a instant .LOL .. When I was doing his cornice work .. a scaffold gave way and I swung out of a ton of rebar pointing upwards .. I was going to be a kebob !! I remember them digging out a tunnel to a shooting range and a pool .. The Freakin house was huge .. 22,000 sq ft .. The style on his cornice .. I found a style that I use to this day ...

You're an inspiration Tom.

WOW!!!! Just.......WOW!!!!!

There is NO video/interview anywhere on the internet or on any medium anywhere that has more wisdom than this one * * *

What to take away from Tom is practical, thoughtful, honest analysis of that which is. And an optimism for the American model of government. It must be understood that no form of government will ever be ultimately be successful, insofar as the inherent human nature of us all will spoil it every time. The American model has been the best yet seen in the world to date, but it is under attack from our own nature as every form must be. The world will do its best to correct itself every time, as it is now. Power and wealth is the reason and the key to understanding this.

This guy talks extremely silent and calm by standards of today's media, with or without putting all in the consideration. That tells a lot I think.

He should have Been President..

Great interview. Mildly amusing that he spoiled a part of Patriot Games, I happen to be reading that and not gotten that far into it (not mad though, I've had plenty of time to read it).

Brilliant

all his words is Idea make this idea to fact...into our daily life carry on his bath..carry his torch... from one candle you can light other candle the road did not start with him nor it will finish he is just part off the chain link so link with him don't give up...

thankyou

Great stuff.

Dad-isms with Tom Clancy.

A lot of very good wisdom presented here...R.I.P. Mr. Clancy.

It's sad that his vision for peace in the future did not come true at ALL.

Great Man.

Such a boss we don't even need the questions.

Could he have just narrated his novels. His voice is very objective like and commanding.

"We are coming to a point in society where anything other than a perfect outcome, is something you sue about." ---> Oh, he didn't live long enough to experience cancel culture. 10X worse than damn lawyers.

If this doesn’t hype you to be a better (insert whatever you identify with ), then don’t know what will.

Somewhere in Langley there's a star. ✴

amazing how he understood the political understanding more than political figures at the helm of their respective nations. Everything he said has come true, 30 years later. And the point about risk, 21:00 the new phraseology is "Coddling", with Haidt writing Coddling of the American Mind. That this is exactly what Clancy warned about, and exactly what we have now, the risk-averse world.

HELP, please. Where's the entire interview? The link above (just under title, by clicking "show more") to the Academy of Achievement does not work. Does anyone know links to either the entire video, or to the transcript of the entire video?

20 and intimidated, no way. This youngster have been through war at that age.

"When you try to absolve people from responsibility all you end up with is more regular reckless behavior and we have seen too much of that." 21:00/41:38

When he speaks about maximizes the ability to to come up with products and ideas i think of levi strauss and his brilliance

the father of tactical shooters

How many small steps do you guys think it will take for an average smo to achieve his legendary status

Tom Clancy was so ahead of his time. But, he wouldn't believe how far this country gone now.

Success bullshit came over me hehe yes indeed. What a genius this man was and is.

3:38 Freaky. He'll end up dying at 66. 😢

Where is the full video?

A snippet of one of Orson welles quotes there at the end? I think welles said something like " if it we're not for women, us men would still be living in caves and eating raw meat ? " hahaha.

Who woulda' thunk he chose Insurance as the biz to get into?

It would have been so interesting to hear his view on the current events, the PRC, Russian invasion of Ukraine, etc.

And now we are facing a generation of young Americans who think socialism is the answer.

Risk is a credo of the insurance and law business so he learned something. TC made his money on the cold war struggle period and he was right then about arms and the man. However I'd like to know , were he alive, what hed say about Russias use of soft power OIL resources ? and how MASSIVE military spending in these Oil wars on our part have limits as every bomb weapon produces no value and has created more debt as they are one and done . Certainly theres a NEED for military strength but there are vast areas of infrastructure needs in our country not abroad that need spending to improve our own commerce internally and externally. And I think if you focus too much on conquest of something like the huge land mass of russia or central asia or china you err because what would you do with 13 time zones speaking 60+ languages when those inhabitants cant manage it as it exists. To think youd do better with our system on that level is the height of hubris . Pick your battles and battlefields because discretion is the better part of valor and risk assessment. Know your enemy.

he made the division?

08:28 , 11:32

29:12 He said, “big league,” as Trump did.

There are some very dedicated Marxists, in American academia for example.

Ha Ha. "We are living in a time when there is no prospect of major powers going to war." That didn't last long unfortunately. Tom had a lot of wisdom. Smart guy. Oh, he had some writing talent also.

I just wonder what he would have thought about our " wonderful 45 president " the complete opposite to his republican beliefs. With the greatest of respect I'm sure he's turning in his grave

He really should have adjusted his trying speech to reasonable attempts at trying. If you try things which aren't mathematically even close to you getting there, its not helpful to your time on this earth. It's best to try for things that are relativity attainable. That's what you tell a young person.

He should stick to writing.

I had lost a lot of time with my 1st child but my 2nd was a son and I tried and did get to have more time with him, but it still haunts me like a nightmare.