In "Déjà Vu, All Over Again" this past July I compared the mistreatment of John Bolton last year by the New York Times with the Times's mistreatment of Daniel Patrick Moynihan in 1975. In both instances the occasion for their mistreatment by the Times was their nominations to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Rereading the column this morning, I am struck by how much Moynihan and Bolton have in common beyond their mistreatment by the Times.

In their public diplomacy both were eloquent supporters of Israel and the American alliance with it, both faithfully held to the importance of "defend[ing] the Jews" (in Moynihan's words) and both represented the United States by means of straight talk that is most striking in the forum of the United Nations. Both served brief, consequential terms as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations; both became intensely popular among American supporters of Israel during their terms. Moynihan was a great teacher; he came from the Harvard faculty to hold the various public offices in which he served before running for elective office in 1976. Bolton is a lawyer by training but he is also an outstanding teacher when he speaks in public.

Just listen to him. Pamela of Atlas Shrugs recently participated in a telephone interview of Ambassador Bolton by telephone with members of AIPAC. Pamela's account of the interview is good, but even better is the audio clip she has posted. I listened to it in its entirety last night and highly recommend it.

Posted by Scott at 06:50 AM  |    |