Most people think science, physics, or crazy hair upon hearing the name of Albert Einstein. But I’m always reminded how Einstein almost became the president of Israel.
As Matthue Roth tells us in his new article on the genius:
In 1952, after the death of Einstein’s friend, then-president Chaim Weizmann, the Israeli newspaper Maariv printed an editorial nominating Einstein as his successor. Eventually, Abba Eban contacted Einstein on behalf of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion. Addressing Einstein, Eban offered “complete facility and freedom to pursue your great scientific work would be afforded by a government and people who are fully conscious of the supreme significance of your labors,” though cautioning that “acceptance would entail moving to Israel and taking its citizenship.” (MORE)
Click here to read Time magazine’s original coverage of the nomination, from the 1952 archives.
