Profiles In Politics, Part I
To keep this blog going, I've decided to write a little series about politicians that I admire. I imagine I'll dedicate the next 4 or 5 posts to this endeavor.
Being in Germany, it is only appropriate that this first post is dedicated to Willy Brandt. I often like to announce, to the annoyance of my classmates, "Willy Brandt! Er ist mein Man!" It translates to "Willy Brandt! He is my man!" It's a reference to this Til Schweiger movie called Honig im Kopf or Head Full of Honey in English. In the movie, the main character is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and so he says things at random. In one particular scene, he's out to dinner with his family, and that's when he randomly announces his support for Willy Brandt.
Willy Brandt was born Herbert Frahm on December 18, 1913, in Lübeck, Germany. He was raised by a single mother, who worked full time while his step-grandparents took care of him. He became a Socialist at a very young age. Because of his political affiliation, he fled Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933. He spent the Nazi years in Norway and then Sweden, working as a left-wing journalist espousing socialist ideas. While there, he adopted the pseudonym Willy Brandt, to avoid detection by Nazi Germany. He came back to Germany after the war and joined the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In 1950, he became a member of the Bundestag. Then from 1957 to 1966, he became Mayor of West Berlin.
It was during this time that Brandt became well known. He stood in the face of the Cold War as a staunch anti-communist. He was also very successful in building new housing programs for the inhabitants of Berlin. Make no mistake though, he was also critical of the United States. Though he was well respected by President John F. Kennedy, he publically criticized President Kennedy following the construction of the Berlin Wall, saying "Berlin expects more than words. It expects political action."
Brandt became the chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1964. After two failed attempts at becoming Chancellor of Germany, he was elected Chancellor in 1969. Brandt led by example. On the domestic front, Willy Brandt was a reformer. He established Germany as a modern welfare state. He increased expenditures for education, housing, pensions, and other social programs.
He was very accomplished in foreign policy, developing a program of Neue Ostpolitik, which worked towards improving relations with East Germany and the rest of the Eastern Bloc. Brandt saw that the west would have more success in chipping away at communism if it engaged with it, versus isolating those countries and giving them more power by showing that the West was constantly trying to finish them off. For his efforts, Willy Brandt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
However, his foreign policy divided the country heavily. Many were disgusted at the idea of engaging with communist countries. For this reason, the coalition that Brandt had put together (the Social Democrats and the Free Democratic Party) fell apart and a vote of no confidence was called. The vote failed by two votes and Willy Brandt remained in power. However, Brandt's majority was gone, so a snap election was called for. Shocking everyone, the Social Democrats gained seats in the Bundestag and remained in power.
Even with the landslide win, Willy Brandt would ultimately resign in 1974. His personal assistant was found to be a Stasi (East German) agent. In addition, the job was taking a personal toll on Brandt, who suffered from depression. Ultimately, Brandt remained a force in German politics. He served in the Bundestag and as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party until his retirement in 1987. He died of Colon Cancer on October 8, 1992, in Unkel, Germany.
I admire Brandt primarily for his foreign policy. Though he was a staunch anti-communist, he sought peace and change through engagement. His domestic policies still shape Germany to this day. Education, Health Care, Pensions, and Affordable Housing are all seen as basic human rights in Germany, so much so that the Christian Democratic Union, the mainstream conservative party, does not dare to dismantle the social welfare programs in this country.
In addition, I find Brandt's life story to be relatable. I grew up with a single parent for most of my life. My mother from age 6-11, and my father from age 12-18. Also in that time, my Grandmother was an integral part of my childhood. So like I imagine Brandt's political views to be shaped by his life experiences, so were mine.
Being in Germany, it is only appropriate that this first post is dedicated to Willy Brandt. I often like to announce, to the annoyance of my classmates, "Willy Brandt! Er ist mein Man!" It translates to "Willy Brandt! He is my man!" It's a reference to this Til Schweiger movie called Honig im Kopf or Head Full of Honey in English. In the movie, the main character is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and so he says things at random. In one particular scene, he's out to dinner with his family, and that's when he randomly announces his support for Willy Brandt.
Willy Brandt was born Herbert Frahm on December 18, 1913, in Lübeck, Germany. He was raised by a single mother, who worked full time while his step-grandparents took care of him. He became a Socialist at a very young age. Because of his political affiliation, he fled Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933. He spent the Nazi years in Norway and then Sweden, working as a left-wing journalist espousing socialist ideas. While there, he adopted the pseudonym Willy Brandt, to avoid detection by Nazi Germany. He came back to Germany after the war and joined the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In 1950, he became a member of the Bundestag. Then from 1957 to 1966, he became Mayor of West Berlin.
It was during this time that Brandt became well known. He stood in the face of the Cold War as a staunch anti-communist. He was also very successful in building new housing programs for the inhabitants of Berlin. Make no mistake though, he was also critical of the United States. Though he was well respected by President John F. Kennedy, he publically criticized President Kennedy following the construction of the Berlin Wall, saying "Berlin expects more than words. It expects political action."
Brandt became the chairman of the Social Democratic Party in 1964. After two failed attempts at becoming Chancellor of Germany, he was elected Chancellor in 1969. Brandt led by example. On the domestic front, Willy Brandt was a reformer. He established Germany as a modern welfare state. He increased expenditures for education, housing, pensions, and other social programs.
He was very accomplished in foreign policy, developing a program of Neue Ostpolitik, which worked towards improving relations with East Germany and the rest of the Eastern Bloc. Brandt saw that the west would have more success in chipping away at communism if it engaged with it, versus isolating those countries and giving them more power by showing that the West was constantly trying to finish them off. For his efforts, Willy Brandt won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
However, his foreign policy divided the country heavily. Many were disgusted at the idea of engaging with communist countries. For this reason, the coalition that Brandt had put together (the Social Democrats and the Free Democratic Party) fell apart and a vote of no confidence was called. The vote failed by two votes and Willy Brandt remained in power. However, Brandt's majority was gone, so a snap election was called for. Shocking everyone, the Social Democrats gained seats in the Bundestag and remained in power.
Even with the landslide win, Willy Brandt would ultimately resign in 1974. His personal assistant was found to be a Stasi (East German) agent. In addition, the job was taking a personal toll on Brandt, who suffered from depression. Ultimately, Brandt remained a force in German politics. He served in the Bundestag and as Chairman of the Social Democratic Party until his retirement in 1987. He died of Colon Cancer on October 8, 1992, in Unkel, Germany.
I admire Brandt primarily for his foreign policy. Though he was a staunch anti-communist, he sought peace and change through engagement. His domestic policies still shape Germany to this day. Education, Health Care, Pensions, and Affordable Housing are all seen as basic human rights in Germany, so much so that the Christian Democratic Union, the mainstream conservative party, does not dare to dismantle the social welfare programs in this country.
In addition, I find Brandt's life story to be relatable. I grew up with a single parent for most of my life. My mother from age 6-11, and my father from age 12-18. Also in that time, my Grandmother was an integral part of my childhood. So like I imagine Brandt's political views to be shaped by his life experiences, so were mine.
Comments
Post a Comment