Engineer Memoirs
They added that I knew the Soviet negotiators, knew the issues, and could speak
Russian. Therefore, they were prepared to offer me the job of chief negotiator of
the strategic arms reduction talks [START]. While I didn't like the way in which
my nomination had been withdrawn, the thought of becoming the chief negotiator
of START sounded appealing. I accepted their offer.
Q ..
To go back a bit, what did you do while you were out of government and at the
Wilson Center?
A.
As I mentioned earlier, I spent most of my time writing a book on my negotiating
experience. I also gave lectures around the country and attended various seminars
and working groups sponsored by the Wilson Center.
One fascinating experience was to participate in a debate with George Kennan.
This was, on the one hand, an interesting experience and, on the other hand, a
painful one. I had been a great admirer of George Kennan back in the late 1940s
when he was sending back from Helsinki his brilliant analyses of the Soviet scene.
I also followed closely the reception that his famous article on containment, signed
"Mr. X" received in the Foreign Affairs magazine. Later, in the mid-1950s,
Kennan did an about-face. I thought that from this time on Kennan had become
an apologist for the Soviet leaders. I also learned about the little-known "death
pill" incident. Kennan thought he might have to commit suicide if drugged to
reveal secrets. A West Point classmate, Peer de Silva, wrote about this in his book
on the CIA. At any rate I entered the debate with George Kennan in New York
City with mixed emotions.
While at the Wilson Center I also got to know Bronislav Geremek. Geremek, a
Polish historian, was writing a book about the migration of Gypsies in 15th Century
Europe. I tried to get Geremek interested in Solidarity, which was just getting
underway. Geremek at first said he was not interested in anything that has
happened in the last century. But he later became highly involved in Solidarity and
subsequently one of Lech Walesa's chief advisors. He is now head of the Polish
Senate.
Q ..
Tell me something about your job as chief U.S. negotiator of the strategic arms
reduction talks. For whom did you work and what did you do?
A.
As chief U.S. negotiator of START, I worked directly for the President. However,
I took my instructions from General Haig, the Secretary of State. I had known
Haig since 1950 when he was a lieutenant and I was a lieutenant colonel and we
both worked for General Almond, the chief of staff for General MacArthur.
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