Wednesday, 2 April 2014

Israel asked Albert Einstein to be their president in 1952.

It’s an offer many of us would not think twice about: ceremoniously heading one of the most wild card countries and freedom to flex their muscle as they squeeze their neighbor’s balls whenever someone eggs them. Not Albert Einstein though.

Albert-Einstein-Israel-presidency
Einstein was offered the chance to be president of Israel in 1952 but he turned down the chance. The Israeli presidency is an honorary role, and the scientist – a Jew but not an Israeli – pondered on what to tell the ambassador. He didn’t want to accept the offer and so decided to phone ambassador in Washington directly, rather than send a telegram.
The ambassador, however, asked Albert Einstein for a written statement, which the latter wrote in a moving manner. Sample this:
I am deeply moved by the offer from our State of Israel (to serve as President), and at once saddened and ashamed that I cannot accept it. All my life I have dealt with objective matters, hence I lack both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to exercise official functions. Therefore I would also be an inappropriate candidate for this high task, even when my old age didn’t interfere with my forces more and more. [...] … I wish from the bottom of my heart that a man is found who will be able to take over the hard and responsible office due to his work and his personality.’