Interviews > Ken Gross

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In early 2000, I was working in the EUR Bureau’s Office of Austrian, German, and Swiss Affairs, and Marc Grossman was the EUR Assistant Secretary.  For much of my tenure, the Austrian portfolio centered on issues involving the Austrian Government’s taking over as chair of the EU for the first time and the controversy involving the seizure of “Portrait of Wally,” an Egon Shiele painting on loan to the New York Museum of Modern Art, after the heirs of the original Jewish owners alleged it had been stolen by the Nazis.  

But a crisis in U.S.—Austrian relations—and EU—Austrian relations—occurred in early 2000 after the far-right Austrian Freedom Party parlayed its second place finish in the 1999 parliamentary elections into forming a governing coalition with the Austrian People’s Party, one of the two main political parties in Austria along with the Social Democrats.  After the coalition agreement was signed, there was public outrage and concern over a party with Nazi origins becoming part of a European government for the first time since the end of World War II. 

The EU acted quickly and limited diplomatic contacts with the new Austrian Government. In the EUR Bureau, we scrambled to assess the situation and determine how the United States Government should respond. For the next several days I and my colleagues worked long hours meeting to decide an appropriate response and developing position papers.

Around 2000 on Friday evening as I was finalizing papers to be presented to Department leadership the following morning, I received a card from Marc. It contained a few lines from him thanking me for my efforts and looking ahead to  finalize the USG policy.  It was not elaborate or literary, just a simple “thank you” and encouragement for work yet to be completed, but for me, mired at my desk late into the evening, the simple fact that he had taken a few minutes to write me a note made all the hard work and long hours worthwhile. 

Many of us in our careers recognize our employees for their good work, but it usually comes after the papers or projects are completed. Marc’s thoughtfulness provided an essential boost to me as I labored away into the weekend.

Years later when I was Ambassador in Tajikistan, Marc visited Dushanbe in his capacity of Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. At my request, he spoke to our Entry Level Officers, and in my introduction I told this story, letting him and my officers know how much it inspired me. All of us in the Foreign Service work hard for promotions and recognition, but sometimes it is the simple things that can be the most meaningful personally.

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