JFK's Top Aide Calls Veep-Elect Biggest Hypocrite in DC
Reading is fundamental. In a year of
great memoirs, Ted Sorensen, John F. Kennedy's speech writer, traveling
companion, advisor, and all around confidante, has penned one of the
best. It's Counselor, A Life at the Edge of History, 556
pages from Harper Collins. President-elect Barack Obama is among the
dignitaries who have penned blurbs for the back cover. However,
clearly Sorensen is not a fan of Obama's V.P. choice. Shortly after
Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976, he appointed Sorensen to be
CIA Director. The nomination ran into trouble because, among other
things, Sorensen had defended the New York Times right to publish the Pentagon papers.
great memoirs, Ted Sorensen, John F. Kennedy's speech writer, traveling
companion, advisor, and all around confidante, has penned one of the
best. It's Counselor, A Life at the Edge of History, 556
pages from Harper Collins. President-elect Barack Obama is among the
dignitaries who have penned blurbs for the back cover. However,
clearly Sorensen is not a fan of Obama's V.P. choice. Shortly after
Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976, he appointed Sorensen to be
CIA Director. The nomination ran into trouble because, among other
things, Sorensen had defended the New York Times right to publish the Pentagon papers.
Here's a paragraph from Chapter 33,
pgs. 499-500 of the book. Ironically, Justice Clarence Thomas has
similar things to say about Senator Biden in his book, but then Thomas
can easily be pooh-poohed as a right winger with an axe to grind. Ted
Sorensen is undoubtedly among the most intellectually gifted left
wingers this country produced in the 20th century.
pgs. 499-500 of the book. Ironically, Justice Clarence Thomas has
similar things to say about Senator Biden in his book, but then Thomas
can easily be pooh-poohed as a right winger with an axe to grind. Ted
Sorensen is undoubtedly among the most intellectually gifted left
wingers this country produced in the 20th century.
"I never lost my
admiration for Inouye. On the other hand, the prize for poltical
hypocrisy in a town noted for political hypocrisy went to Joe Biden.
On my first courtesy call to his office, he could not have been more
enthusiastic, supportive, and gracious,calling me "the best appointment
Carter has made!" At the opening of the hearing, he changed both his
tune and his tone, stating, "Quite honestly, I'm not sure whether or
not Mr. Sorensen intentionally took advantage of ambiguities in the law
or carelessly ignored the law." After listening to my statement of
defense and withdrawal, he said, "Ted, you are one of the classiest men
I have ever run across in my whole life."
admiration for Inouye. On the other hand, the prize for poltical
hypocrisy in a town noted for political hypocrisy went to Joe Biden.
On my first courtesy call to his office, he could not have been more
enthusiastic, supportive, and gracious,calling me "the best appointment
Carter has made!" At the opening of the hearing, he changed both his
tune and his tone, stating, "Quite honestly, I'm not sure whether or
not Mr. Sorensen intentionally took advantage of ambiguities in the law
or carelessly ignored the law." After listening to my statement of
defense and withdrawal, he said, "Ted, you are one of the classiest men
I have ever run across in my whole life."
So much for the Veep-Elect
Sorensen's Chapter 13,My Role in Profiles in Courage, is a classic in obfuscation.
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