esrosedotblog

Paul Nitze was a giant. He was the architect of our nuclear arms policies and when it was time to take them down, he was instrumental in the negotiations to disarm. He is, famously, the American in the play 'Walk in the Woods'.

Here, at 93, he is being honored with the naming of a ship. That is Secretary of Defense Cohen at his side.

Nitze was apolitical. An activist. He is one of those semi-visible people; the ones who do the real work of government while the politics get played out in other arenas.

For me, he is a hero. The single most dramatic event of my life was the collapse of the Soviet Union. He was a clear player in its demise but also understood the need for mutuality and for the remaining members of the Union, notably the Russians, to maintain respect and dignity at the end of the proceedings.

I like that he refused to be appointed to a position by the 8th President he worked for; George the First. Nitze saw that is was a ceremonial position meant to burnish the faltering Bush image and told them to put it in their hat.