FBI file: Steve Jobs was considered for govt post

[Omaha Steve]

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20120209/D9SQ4ELO1.html

By PETE YOST

WASHINGTON (AP) - FBI background interviews of some people who knew Apple co-founder Steve Jobs reveal a man driven by power and alienating some of the people who worked with him.

In the FBI documents released Thursday, many of those who knew Jobs praised him, speaking highly of Jobs' character and integrity and asserting that he always conducted his business dealings in a reputable manner. They recommended him for a post during the George H.W. Bush administration.

The 1991 interviews were part of a background check for an appointment to the President's Export Council.

The Commerce Department confirmed Thursday that Jobs did serve on the council during the first Bush administration.

FULL story at link.

[FredisDead]

1. FBI file on Steve Jobs includes drug use, distorted reality

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002289655

[teddy51]

2. In other words, Steve Jobs was an asshole that cared only about himself and

his family! He used slave labor to make his products, and became very rich doing so. What an example to set for young Americans growing up.

[fujiyama]

3. Definitely more complex than that

especially on that whole "caring about family" thing. He didn't even acknowledge his daughter for several years. And the impression I got from the the biography is that he was somewhat distant from his other kids as well...

So yes in short he was an ass hole. But he was an ass hole that was pretty visionary in terms of designing and marketing products that people didn't know they wanted - and he created a demand for those products.

Unfortunately, managers will likely read biographies of him and think "hey to be a good manager I need to be an ass hole too". In reality, he wasn't a very good manager. He's not the kind of person most people (included talented and highly skilled people) would want to work for. But that will be lost on many people.

[MADem]

5. He didn't just "not acknowledge" her--he lied to a court and said he was sterile and it was not

possible for the child to be his! Basically, he rejected his child while also calling his long-term partner a sleep-around! A real skunk! Thank heaven for DNA!

[Myrina]

8. +10 ... way too many people don't know (or acknowledge) this about their hero.

[tech_smythe]

6. Apple hemorrhages people left and right

brilliant types too.
most of the ones I talk to tell me they got burned out.
Engineers thinking working for apple will be great for their career (true) but can't handle job's almost schizophrenic type-A behavior.

He was a marketing genius, like Bill gates, true.
He took EXISTING technology and made it pretty.

Bill gates took existing technology and made it affordable.

form over function and function over form. they were almost mirror images of each other in many ways.

I have more than my share of ill things to say about gates. I could fill 10 forums with history and facts about both men. but it comes down to there are still people at Microsoft who were there in the beginning.

You can't really say that about apple.

I'm interested in seeing where both companies are in another 20 years.

[boppers]

7. Who's left at Microsoft? Adobe? IBM? Intel?

Tech churns staff like mad. That's just tech.

[Tom Ripley]

4. The Medicis were real assholes, also (and they, not Leonardo, were Jobs spiritual forefathers)

[bathroommonkey76]

9. Why did Jobs have a top secret clearance? nt