Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel and turned it down.
After the death of Israel's first president in 1952, the prime minister offered the largely ceremonial post to Einstein. He declined, writing that he lacked the aptitude and experience to deal with people.
Why is this true?
Einstein was 73 and in poor health, and said he was deeply moved by the offer but unsuited to the role. He died three years later, having spent his final decades on physics and campaigning for nuclear disarmament.
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