Posted on 11/10/2015 7:52:35 AM PST by Borges
Helmut Schmidt, the former West German chancellor who marshaled personal dynamism, managerial brilliance and often acid-tongued impatience to push his country into an assertive international role as the Cold War dragged on into the 1970s, died on Tuesday at his home in Hamburg, according to German news reports. He was 96.
His death was confirmed by Teresa Maria Frei, spokeswoman for Die Zeit, where Mr. Schmidt was co-publisher.
For decades, Mr. Schmidt was one of West Germany’s most popular politicians. With a firm jaw and intense gray eyes, he was handsome, witty and supremely self-possessed, known to be a magnetic speaker and a pugnacious debater. (Early in his career, he was known as “Schmidt the Lip.â€) As recently as 2013, in a poll by Stern magazine, he was ranked as Germany’s most significant chancellor.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Germany could use him right about now. He’d be a vast improvement on Frau Merkel.
Of course, Adenauer and Erhardt were the best German Chancellors.
Though he was part of the SPD, he was a patriotic leader who put country before political agenda.
RIP, Herr Schmidt.
Conservative-minded Germans were wont to remark, "Der ist ein guter Mann - leider ist er in der falschen Partei" - i.e.: "He is a good guy, but in the wrong party."
He had class, and refused to apologize for being an inveterate smoker.
Regards,
Schmidt’s policies included a hard line and military action against terrorists, reducing public spending and advocating deploying medium range missiles in Europe. He even came around to cutting spending and Welfare by the end of his term. The world needs more “socialists” like him.
German citizens would gladly do a swap these days.
RIP.
Ah yes, another lifelong smoker dies prematurely in his 90s...
He’s fortunate. He didn’t die at the hands of muslim invaders like so many of his countrymen will.
And I remember his interviews with his fluent English and confident countenance. The guy exuded coolness.
One of the lucky ones with good genes who got away with it.
Now there’s a fitting image.
Too bad he didn’t really follow through on his sentiment to not let any more Turks immigrate when he was actually in power.
Of course all that followed were worse, much worse.
Indeed! *sigh*
How convenient for Merkel.
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