What did Larry Summers and Noam Chomsky See in Jeffrey Epstein?
A large swath of America's intellectual and scientific elite appears to be facing the prospect of great embarrassment.
Earlier today I suggested that many of the world’s high and mighty may dread the release of the Epstein files not because they themselves have committed sexual crimes, but out of fear that the disclosures will be extremely embarrassing.
This evening I returned from dinner with my father to see the news that former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President, Larry Summers, has been deeply embarrassed by the publication of his e-mail correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein. Especially embarrassing is the correspondence in which the two men discuss Summers’s desire to seduce a former Harvard student whose father was a former Communist Chinese Party official and founding president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
In response to the disclosure of these emails, Summers just issued the following statement.
I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort to rebuild trust and repair relationships with the people closest to me.
What did Professor Summers see in Epstein? What was so compelling and seductive about Epstein—and so inspiring of confidence—that Summers felt comfortable sharing such intimate and potentially compromising details with him in writing?
Glenn Greenwald just released an interesting monologue in which he expresses his bafflement about what Noam Chomsky saw in Epstein.
There must have been something extraordinarily seductive about Jeffrey Epstein, but what exactly was it?
Off the top of my head, it occurs to me he had some of the magnetic charm of Lord Byron (“mad, bad, and dangerous to know,” as Lady Caroline Lamb described him) and the Italian author, seducer, and proto-fascist leader, Gabriele d’Annunzio.
Increasingly I wonder if the criminal (underage girls) element of this story—though highly significant—has distracted attention from a much broader story of the seduction and embarrassment of America’s intellectual and scientific elite.
Eric Weinstein mused about this in his 2020 episode of his The Portal podcast titled “The Construct.”
If Weinstein’s intuition is correct, it seems possible that Larry Summers and Noam Chomsky are just two of many members of the intellectual elite who are now facing the prospect of being greatly embarrassed.
Bingo, John.
I think we're closer to an answer as to why so little has been released in terms of concrete details and incidences. Larry Summers' reaction reveals all.
I studied acting for a few years which was fascinating. Loved the craft--hated the business. Quid pro quo. One aspect is called "script analysis." Many people might think the actor simply picks up the script, personalizes the content, and gives a performance. The better ones see more deeply. The script is the barebones of the story.
Depth of character is built by understanding and feeling the motivation and myriad aspects of the character. As an acting teacher said once, playing Hitler (or any killer) as simply deranged and evil is boring. Even Hitler had good points and soft spots. They fed into the evil...otherwise...we learn nothing if viewing someone's performance. Playing Hitler as evil would be called "a one-note performance."
Same with this Epstein saga. I listened to part of Greenwald. Epstein provided insider information; esteemed connections often thought outside a individual's purview; provided valuable financial services for some; and connected on a personal level. We need to remind ourselves that sociopaths are notoriously adept at the chameleon change. They become who you want.
For Jeffrey? I suspect they were simply sources to be nurtured and used. Even those like Chomsky who had years-long associations with him.
Can anyone imagine how Larry Summers' acquaintances and social connections will now look at him? Can he ever be sure that, despite profusive courtesy toward him, they won't think him now beneath them? And be discounted? The worst outcome of all--to be discounted when your life has hinged on people seeking your favor and giving respect.
The men didn't have to "see" anything in Epstein. Wasn't Epstein a mere corridor to get to the girls?