Here are pertinent observations from two accomplished political veterans at a forum Tuesday night at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The question, from David Gergen, was what advice the panelists, former Reagan advisor Ken Duberstein and former JFK advisor Ted Sorensen, both of whom had been supportive of Mr. Obama in 2008—Mr. Sorensen campaigned with him in the primaries and the general election—would now give the president.

Mr. Duberstein said, "Don't overload the circuits," sequence your actions, don't attempt too much too quickly, or too completely. Then, modify the tone. "In campaigning, you try to annihilate your opponent. Governing, you try to make love to your opponents, as well as your allies."

Mr. Sorensen disagreed with the first...