Fabulous recounting of the Duff book and Talleyrand himself. The famous French statesman would fit in nicely in the current American administration, with one exception. He was extremely competent, knew exactly what he was doing, and others knew that about him, too, including Napoleon. One quote I recall from that book underscores the former (I paraphrase): “He had no scruples and no respect for those who did.” Another anecdote (that I recall from Bob Zoellick’s book “America in the World”) underscores how much our own country has changed since the founding: Shuffling along a Manhattan street one evening, Talleyrand noticed Alexander Hamilton working late by candlelight at his law office (this was after Hamilton had stepped down from being Treasury Secretary). Talleyrand thought to himself that in most countries he knew besides the United States, a man of Hamilton’s stature would have accumulated all the money he would ever need while serving in high office and never have to work for a living again. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Alexis. It’s interesting that Hamilton and Talleyrand became friends. They were kindred spirits. Here’s a fascinating anecdote from that Duff Cooper book: Aaron Burr left a visiting card with Talleyrand’s staff sometime after the famous duel with Hamilton. According to Cooper, the major domo was told to let Burr know the next time he tried to visit that Talleyrand had a portrait of Hamilton hanging above his mantel.
Fabulous recounting of the Duff book and Talleyrand himself. The famous French statesman would fit in nicely in the current American administration, with one exception. He was extremely competent, knew exactly what he was doing, and others knew that about him, too, including Napoleon. One quote I recall from that book underscores the former (I paraphrase): “He had no scruples and no respect for those who did.” Another anecdote (that I recall from Bob Zoellick’s book “America in the World”) underscores how much our own country has changed since the founding: Shuffling along a Manhattan street one evening, Talleyrand noticed Alexander Hamilton working late by candlelight at his law office (this was after Hamilton had stepped down from being Treasury Secretary). Talleyrand thought to himself that in most countries he knew besides the United States, a man of Hamilton’s stature would have accumulated all the money he would ever need while serving in high office and never have to work for a living again. Thanks for posting.
Thanks Alexis. It’s interesting that Hamilton and Talleyrand became friends. They were kindred spirits. Here’s a fascinating anecdote from that Duff Cooper book: Aaron Burr left a visiting card with Talleyrand’s staff sometime after the famous duel with Hamilton. According to Cooper, the major domo was told to let Burr know the next time he tried to visit that Talleyrand had a portrait of Hamilton hanging above his mantel.