German ex-Chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies at 96

[DFW]

Source: BBC

Mr Schmidt, who was a Social Democrat, was an architect of the European Monetary System, which linked EU currencies and was a key step on the path to the euro.

He was credited with helping to consolidate the country's post-war economic boom.

He is seen as one of the most popular German leaders since WWII.

Mr Schmidt died on Tuesday afternoon in his home city of Hamburg, his doctor Heiner Greten was quoted as saying by German media.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34778565

---

Der Spiegel described Social Democrat Schmidt as the "pilot of the century." I remember once he was on vacation in the USA, and 60 Minutes caught up with him. His English was so good and his intellect so sharp, many listeners wrote in asking if the requirement that the American President be a natural-born citizen might not be waived in Schmidt's case. He was also known in Germany as "Schmidt Scnhauze," which pretty much means he was known for speaking his mind in no uncertain terms, and not suffering fools lightly.

[MADem]

1. As all the old newsmakers pass on, a new era really is taking hold.

I remember him well. He was a fascinating guy.

[DFW]

2. He was giving long lucid interviews on German TV well past 90.

He forged a close relationship with Giscard D'Estaing, then president of France, and equally fluent in English. They had long, almost daily conversations on the phone while they were in office, and forged the closest Franco-German relations ever, almost Degaulle-Adenauer.2

[MADem]

7. 90 is the new 70 for lots of people. I have a couple of relatives in that range, still.

A good life, well lived.

Will they give him a grand funeral? He deserves one!

[DFW]

8. I don't know yet. This just happened

The papers were full of his declining condition here for days now, but he proved so tough in the past that no one was really prepared for him to go until the last day or so, when it became clear that he would be around much longer.

[MADem]

11. I hope they take the time to show their regard. He was a helluva fella. nt

[DFW]

12. They absolutely will

I don't know which chancellor was more respected, Schmidt or Adenauer, but there certainly were no others in their league in the 20th century.

[BeyondGeography]

3. "His legacy was Europe."

Great summary of the man at the link. Highly rec'd.

In addition to making European unity possible and being impossible to intimidate, he had to be the world's oldest living smoker.

[DFW]

4. "Oldest living smoker" !!

One of them anyway. Schmidt was that one guy out of ten thousand who could attempt to cross the Autobahn at rush hour on foot, blindfolded, and make it to the other side unhurt.

[BeyondGeography]

5. I'm sorry for my German in-laws; he made them feel young

They were born in the 30s. Interesting to read about Schmidt and VGE. Mitterrand and Kohl were just as close. Humankind at its best.

[DFW]

13. The difference is that Kohl spoke hardly any foreign language

And Mitterand's German wasn't much, if he knew any at all. Schmidt and Giscard could pick up the phone and talk directly to each other without any misunderstanding or need for a translator.

[MADem]

9. LOL!!!!!!!!!!

No Yul Brynner, he! I'd imagine the few remaining tobacco companies are kicking themselves that they didn't try to sign him on as a compensated endorser!!!

[Aristus]

6. I grew up listening to news reports about him.

The first time I heard of him, I was probably 7 or so, and I thought his name was 'Helmet'.

[MADem]

10. Ha ha ha! I love anecdotes like that! Little kids have the most vivid and interpretive minds!

Of course, nowadays, with the screwed-up names people give their kids in order to be "unique," there might actually be a few "Helmets" out there!!! LOL!

[DFW]

14. Like my daughter's "I spread the peaches." n/t

[47of74]

15. RIP Herr Schmidt