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| Warren Buffett |
News that Warren Buffett has prostate cancer comes as a shock.
I had two hours with Warren Buffett back in 2008. I had been dispatched to Omaha to interview the oracle by his great friend Don Keough, former head of Coca Cola.
Don was writing his autobiography, ("Ten Commandments for Business Failure") which was later a New York Times bestseller, and he asked me to help with the introduction to the book from Buffett.
So off I went to Omaha and downtown to the utterly anonymous office building where Buffett works.
I had expected a significant security presence, but it was clear that while there was some, Buffett lived life on his own terms, which meant retaining his anonymity at a minimum of fuss.
Upstairs in his office suite it could have been any accountant’s office, nothing flashy or indicating the greatest financial genius of the age.
I was ushered in to the great man’s presence soon after.
What struck me right away were his modest manner and his incredibly clean desk. No teletypes chattering, no Bloomberg TV blaring, no stock market updates, just a telephone and Warren Buffett.
It made sense; he was never a creature of the markets, rather a man who analyzed in private with few distractions, unimpressed with the daily storm and drag of the markets.
Like all great interviewees, he had put aside the time for me and nothing else mattered for that period.
Because it was for his great friend, Don Keough, he had put aside two hours.
We sat, me on a couch, him on a chair, in his modest office and chatted as if we had all the time in the world.
He was quick, funny, and clearly loved the topic matter, Don Keough.
He reminisced about the old days in Omaha when he was a struggling stock picker and the man across the road, Don Keough, was just starting with Coca Cola.
He was lively, animated and curious, fun to be with.
A measure of Buffet’s modesty is that he still lives in that house across the road from the old Keough residence.
After two hours we were done and he could not have been more courteous or kind. I am sorry to hear that he has early prostate cancer and I’m sure he’ll beat it.
He is truly one of the good guys.
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7 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.kaydog1 | Apr 19, 2012, 07:16 PM EDT
Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway company owes nearly ONE BILLION DOLLARS US $ in unpaid taxes dating back to 2002 - yet this HYPOCRITE has the colossal gall to say "Obama is right, people like me could easily afford to pay more taxes." Buffet is a dishonest shill for the Obama Administration, and should be doing time for tax evasion along with Timothy Geithner, the CEO of Solyndra,that thief Jon Corzine, and most of the rest of the Administration. That Niall is impressed with him surprises me not at all - O'Dowd loves anyone who supports Obama.
seanomelb | Apr 18, 2012, 11:38 PM EDT
Warren Buffet the conscience of the billionaire set, he makes the Koch brothers look like a pair of scrooges.
Searlit | Apr 18, 2012, 07:13 PM EDT
I am also sorry to here of Warren Buffet's illness. He's a determined man which should help him to regain his health. He will have the best medical care, available. I hope he takes full advantage of the better treatments out there. I agree, he is one of the Good guys. Get well soon, Warren! America needs you!
Towngate | Apr 18, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT
..."Storm and drag"? ...interesting Irish-Americanian twist on the German "Sturm und Drang". Did you mis-hear it or just make it up? Sláinte!
Monsoonman | Apr 18, 2012, 11:50 AM EDT
Excellent..In America you dont need to be royalty/a trust brat or the recipient of some govt program to make it big
CelticQueenUSA | Apr 18, 2012, 10:37 AM EDT
Maybe Warren should run for President! Bless his good sense.
SeamusMor | Apr 18, 2012, 10:16 AM EDT
Fascinating!