September 30, 2005

Ms. Hertz mentions that Simon Wiesenthal died. She says, “You know he did some good things, but he was such an egomaniac.” She mentions that years ago she was contacted by Mr. Wiesenthal to write a biography of his life. She spent some time with him in his office in Vienna to see if they could work together. She recollects on a story he told her.

He tells her when he was a young boy he used to block all the younger children from going through an open fence at the end of his street where children would go to play. He would demand money for their safe passage through his tollbooth. If children did not have money he would push the children on the floor, pull the metal button of their jackets and keep them.

Ms. Hertz says she was not so much bothered by the typical childhood story, but with the way in which he told the story. She says he sounded like he still enjoyed what he had done to the children. She says he told it with malice.