The scientist who was offered a country

In November 1952, Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel, died. Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion wanted someone of worldwide stature to succeed him, and thought of the most famous Jewish person alive: Albert Einstein, then 73 and living in Princeton.

Israel’s ambassador, Abba Eban, sent a formal letter offering him the presidency. He would need to move to Israel and take citizenship, but would be free to continue his scientific work.

Einstein replied that he was deeply moved but could not accept. All his life, he wrote, he had dealt with objective matters, so he lacked both the natural aptitude and the experience to deal properly with people and to carry out official duties. He added that he was saddened, because his relationship with the Jewish people had become his strongest human bond.

Ben-Gurion was reportedly relieved; he had privately worried about what would happen if Einstein said yes. The episode shows a rare kind of self-knowledge: knowing exactly what you are good at, and what you are not.