Prince of the City
It’s curious what passes for a compliment in the tough-guy world of Rudy Giuliani. In an interview posted on Commentary magazine’s “Contentions” blog Monday night, Giuliani biographer and adviser Fred Siegel reiterates the message of his book “Prince of the City” that Giuliani is essentially a Machiavellian character.
“Most of what Giuliani did was Machiavellian in the best sense,” Siegel says. “People forget Machiavelli believed in virtue. Not quite our version of virtue, but something akin to it. He understood that political morality and public morality often coexist uneasily.”
Siegel further points out that “Giuliani’s own favorite slogan is Machiavellian: ‘It’s better to be feared than loved.’ ”
Only in New York.
