V
EUGENE REGISTER-GUARD, Sunday, Jin. 13, 1963 Page 11A
Career Officer No 'Wheel'
But He Makes Them Turn
By ARTHUR EDSON
Of the Associated Press
WASHINGTON The roster
of State Department brass lists
242 names.' Nowhere among
them is that of Robert Arnold
Hurwitch. But without him and
his like, the wheels of American
diplomacy whether involved in
a crisis in Cuba or a cultural
' exchange in Sierra Leona can
not turn.
Hurwitch is the first to ack
knowledge he is no State De
partment wheel. But since bis is
an important, responsible job
and since his whole life is, and '
will continue to be, the Foreign
Service, we probably can better
understand how the department
works by looking at Hurwitch
than at some of those perched
above him.
We sometimes look on diplo
mats with suspicion, as wearers
of striped pants, as sippers of
champagne, as men who if not
outright liars are at least truth
fudgers. In our stock portraits a dip
lomat is bland, urbane, world
weary.
Robert Arnold Hurwitch
doesn't fit the usual preconcep
tions. At 42, Hurwitch is a bundle
of enthusiasms. Far from being
world weary, he lets words like
"interesting" and "exciting"
dart through his conversation.
Our image diplomat is debo
nair and tall, or looks tall in
full evening dress.
No Ivy Leaguer
Hurwitch is of average height
and his business suit might be
that of a skilled machine ope
rator, which he once was, going
to confer with management,
which he once did.
Although Hurwitch is from
New England ( Worcester,
Mass.) that's about as close as
he ever got to the Ivy League.
His parents were born in Kiev,
Russia, and were brought to
this country as small children.
The Hurwitches were poor,
but Robert won a scholarship
to the University of Chicago.
"I hitchhiked my way out
there," he says, "and worked
my way through. The usual
jobs. Washing dishes. Waiting
tables.
, "But in my last year I decided
I wasn't learning all I wanted
to know. And, anyway, I was
really tired, so I dropped out
I went to trade school and be
came a machine operator."
He was soon involved in the
plant union, became a shop
steward and worked on a labor
management team.
In 1943 the draft caught Hur
witch. . . '
He eventually was on his way
to the German front as a re
placement for a rifle platoon
leader, a type that needed fre
quent replacing.
When he reported for duty,
he found a vigorous but incon
clusive argument spluttering be
tween the brass and a French
woman. Hurwitch volunteerd
his linguistic abilities in French
and German and instantly solv
ed their simple problem: The
officers wanted to rent her
restaurant as a command post,
and she was willing.
"Do you speak this lingo?"
; Hurwitch was asked.
' ' His Career Changed -
This inelegant question was to
change his whole career. He ob
viously did speak the lingo, and
since the outfit's intelligence
officer had been bit in the head
by shrapnel, a new one was
needed. Hurwitch got the job.
These coincidences were to
have lasting results. For he
would stay on in Europe as a
part of the military government.
work in the denazification pro
gram, serve as a liaison officer;
to the French and pick up an
enduring love for diplomatic;
life, return to the University of
Chicago to finish work on his
degree, pass his Foreign Service
examinations and start his slow
climb that could end, if he has
enough additional interesting
coincidences, in an ambassador
ship. Hurwitch knew French and
German, but thought he should
also have Spanish. So he asked
for a Latin-American assign
ment. . This accounts for his inter
hemispheric career, from Lima
to Hamburg to Bonn to Bogota.
In Washington, he has put in
time on the Cuban desk, and
now handles Cuban problems
for Edward M. Martin, assist
ant secretary of state for inter
American affairs.
Hurwitch reportedly played
an important, but character
istically quiet, role in helping
0
rL
Jerusalem Quiet
Following Strike
JERUSALEM, Jordan Sector
Wl Shops and offices reopened
and Jerusalem returned to nor
mal Saturday after a tense gen
eral strike against replacement
of popular Gov. Anwar Nussei
beh by a non-Palestinian.
Extra security measures con
tinued, however, in case of pos
sible trouble in the Jordanian
sector of Jerusalem, divided be
tween Arabs and Israelis.
To back up the government's
unpopular decision to replace
Nusseibeh, King Hussein paid a
surprise visit to Jerusalem Fri
day night and congratulated the
new governor Fadl Dalqamouni,
former undersecretary of communications.
U.S. Launches 16th Polaris Submarine
GROTON, Conn. CB The Navy I than Hale, designed to throw a
launched Saturday its 16th Po- nuclear-tipped missile 2,500
laris-firing submarine, the Na-' miles.
Lan County
Headquarters For ffmV msW
Imperial, Chrysler, v- C' J
Plymouth Valiant! I,
NEWPORT
SPECIAL!
$3574
LOADED
Including Power Steering, Radio,
Heater, Automatic Transmission,
Etc.
Including the 5 year or .
50,000 mile warranty
Web Hibbard
Sales Manager
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
To Meet "Mr. Travel" Himself
LEWIS TRAVEL SERVICE invites all persons Interest
ed in INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL to meet Mr. R. W.
HEMPHILL of Los Angeles, "Mr. Travel" himself. Mr.
Hemphill is the most widely travelled man in this
country and over the past 34 years has been organizing
and conducting his QUALITY TOURS all over the
world. He has explored every nook and cranny of every
continent; his last trip took him to the Wadi Hadhra
maut in South Arabia. .
Mr. Hemphill, will be In our offices on January 29th end
we will be very pleased Indeed to Introduce you to thli most
Interesting and experienced TRAVEL EXPERT. You will be
able to freely chat with Mr. Travel himself about your travel
experiences, future ambitions, and obtain unbiased and first
hand advice and Information concerninf any foreian place.
For further Information please call DI 2-1221 or
drop in at 812 Olive Street.
LEWIS TRAVEL
ii& AAvkUtto .4saS
Register-Guard Want Ads Get Quick Results
AP Newsfeaturea pboto)
Giving his notes a last-minute checking,
Robert Hurwitch halts outside the office
of Undersecretary of State George Ball
7i fr 1 1 'n e ta'e Depal'tment in Washington,
VILclI before going in to confer with him.
Hurwitch, State Department specialist
fs in Cuban affairs, does background work
,02? fr important decisions by the depart
65 ment big wheels. He was one of the
few in on the Cuban crisis while it was "
still a Washington mystery.
to arrange the release last
month of Cuban prisoners held
in Havana since the ill-fated
Bay ef Pigs invasion.
During the October ' Cuban
crisis, which brought about the
momentous confrontation be
tween the United States and
Russia, Hurwitch also was in ac
tion behind the scenes.
He isn't about to detail the
part he played.
But for that whole, hectic
week, there was no letup for
Hurwitch.
"I was pretty beat," he re
calls. At one point during the tense
crisis, Hurwitch was startled in
his office by the ringing of
alarm bells.
With an embarrassed grin,
he remembers:
"My first thought was: 'How
many bells for an air raid
alarm?' " Most of us think of
the Cuban problem simply as
Fidel Castro. To Hurwitch, it's
an unending source of complica
tions. i :
Hurwitch believes every de
partment in the government has
come to him with specialized
problems involving Cuba.
Hurwitch says decisions are
mostly the result of combined
thinking. r
"A problem conies up." he
says. "I do the leg work. I
suggest several possible solu
tions and make my recommen
dation: This is what I think.
Okay. Fine.
. "It goes to Ed Martin. He's
got the whole hemisphere to
worry about."
The final decision not only
should work, but it also should
not offend another part of the
hemisphere or another part of
the world.
Hurwitch thinks this country
is right in trying to steer a
course between those who would
invade Cuba or at least squeeze
it to death, and those who say
let's learn to live with Castro.
He thinks Castro succeeded
because Cubans desperately
wanted reforms, and "you don't
kill that by force.
. "War is the easy thing. You
can always go to war. We've
got to come out of this with
Castro out and with our own in
tegrity." .
As one of the few diplomats
who have ever walked a picket
line, Hurwitch may be preju
diced, but he, is firmly convinced
that the best long range bet in
Latin America is a strong, inde
pendent labor movement.
See and hear with the
"WISP-EAR" today at
SONOTONE
i W. r. DODGE, Manager
KC DRUG
WH 2-3451, Cottage Grove
832 Willamette
DI 5-7021, Eugene
25 lo 50
DISCOUNTS
on
Maternity Wear
Jewelry
Hats ' '
All Through January
Save Now at The
BONNET NOOK
169 E. Broadway DI 5-2434
"Buy With Confidence"
KIMBALL ORGANS
Perfected hr- one of Amer
ica's most famous pipe orfan
builders.
Superb tone.. ..Only M7S.
"National Advertised r-rtte"
Chester Plelka Musle
!1 tlnrolw DI 41
Learn to be a
GOOD DANCER
the easy way!
12 hf.
Trial lesson
FREE
sm
uSfY CAN BE YOU
a fUtl
POPULAR"'
i i ... "Magic dh -""-v..
Murray 8 the key to xne
.... i.on you learn " V fB,td.nces.
in,f "-- art 0 your ie". --j
Pies .fL'V. of new friends-n"
fun than ever before
Adults only
33 West 8th Ph. DI 5-2311
Mr. Mrs. mobert Gregory: Licensee
r you're looking for handsome savings
. . choice selections ... finest furniture
THE TIME IS NOW AT
s
January Clearance
EVERY ITEM ON OUR FLOOR REDUCED
What a wonderful opportunity to get acquainted with Johnson-quality furniture. Three floors of the
kind of furnishings you see featured in your favorite national home furnishings magazine . . . the
lovely pieces you want for every room in your heme. Now they're tagged for clearance so that we can
balance our inventory and make room for new MERCHANDISE ARRIVING DAILY. Choose outstand
ing bargai ns in all departments; one and few-of-a-kind items, floor samples, discontinued groups. But
be here early you'll have the time of your life choosing distinctive furniture thot will reflect your
good taste at prices that'll really delight you. Here are a few examples:
The
A PURITAN COLLECTION '
, V V' Ekm IN HAND BURNISHED MAPLE Jn '
-' -'
' ' '
SAVE ON
7 Piece
Solid Maple
Living Room Group
3 Cushion Sofa , Arm Chair
Coffee Table 2 Step End Tables
2 Matching Table Lamps
Solid; Maple Frames
Poly-foam Cushion Comfort plus beauty, plus complete
ness, at one terrific sale price. The striking "Berkshire"
sofa and man-sized chair have rugged under construction,
solid maple frame and legs. Hand finished. All this plus
a set of three matching maple tables end two table lamps.
All 7 pieces for, the price of the sofa and chair elonel
Bonus Buys For January Clearance
IReg. 209.95 FASHION FLOW 3-PC. BEDROOM SUITE 1A09S
Double dresser Chest, Bookcase Bed, in Blond walnut ,
2 Reg. 229.95 DANISH MODERN 2-PC. BEDROOM SUITE 1TQ95
Large Triple dresser and mirror Bookcase bed, Walnut . I m
3 Reg. 249.95 SIMMONS HIDE-A-BEDS. 4 styles to O05
choose from. Nylon covers. Full-size innerspring mattress , ' WW '
4 Reg. 199.95 SIMMONS KING-SIZE 78"x80" MATTRESS and BOX SPRING . 4Q95
100" of coils for good restful support r-
5 ALL FLOOR SAMPLES of Monte's "Montchalen Originals" at least 20 off OflOA OflOA .Off
. 3 piece sectionals, Davenports and chairs. Extra long pillow back sofas 108" long. JLJ 0"W O WIT,
6 Reg. 5.95 sq. yd. 100 continuous filament NYLON PILE CARPETING 095 sq.
Choose Brown, Martini, Gold :- yd.
7 CLOSE-OUT ALL HASSOCKSRound, Square, Rectangle. OQQfs Off
t Solid or leg styles, many colors ; "Vr O VII
(Fair Trade Items Excepted)
SAVE AT LEAST 10 and up to 50 on every item in the store.
FREE DELIVERY
FREE
PARKING
in back ef store
off 6th Ave.
DI 4-2281
649 Willamette