Timothy E. Liston, Consul General of the United States in Munich, is an excellent speaker. The way he, as patron, started the evening with a laugh would have broken the ice even in the Cold War. “Please excuse me. The Oktoberfest gave me the gift of a Barry White voice,” says Liston. Hoarse to die for.
It is German-American Day, like every October 6th since 1987, when Ronald Reagan revived this old tradition that had been interrupted by the world wars. The people who have gathered here in the smaller hall of the Ratskeller know this too – unlike the majority of people who are dawdling through the pedestrian zone upstairs on this Friday evening as if nothing were happening.
Down here, the Association of German-American Clubs, including the Munich Gentlemen’s Club, gathered to celebrate the festival and to present Wolfgang Ischinger, the former German ambassador and long-time head of the Munich Security Conference, with an award: the Lucius D. Clay Medal after the father of the Berlin Airlift. In previous years it went to Angela Merkel, Friedrich Merz and such sporting contemporaries as basketball star Dirk Nowitzki.
Astonishing in this context: everyone who is even slightly interested in Munich society knows about the German-American Women’s Club and its charity silver tea, but very few have heard of its male counterpart. Both clubs were founded in 1947. Munich was in ruins and many were starving. Initially there were more American members, many officers among them, who wanted and could help. Things have changed drastically since the last US Army units withdrew from Munich in 1992. Today around 90 of the 100 members are German. All gentlemen, of course. These include doctors – like the current club president Eberhard Standl – scientists, entrepreneurs and politicians.
Their main concern: promoting exchange – especially in the form of scholarships that are financed together with the women’s club. They are offered to German and American students for guest stays, each in the other country. Four of the young people came that evening and they were celebrated just as warmly as Ischinger.
The way out of the Ukraine war? Ischinger recommends better preparation
He does what a diplomat has to do, even if he’s a bit a. D. is: Ischinger explains the world to those gathered without spoiling their planned dinner too much. He reminds us that there is “no eternal guarantee for the US protective shield” and that, in his view, Germany would do better to keep its two percent for defense promise. It could help if the isolationist Texas farmer asks himself who his taxes actually go to Europe for.
Ischinger has another lesson with him from the Balkan War. Whenever someone asks him (“about five times a day”) about how Ukraine is moving from war to peace, he has to think of a 1,000-page draft text. A US delegation head for Bosnia-Herzegovina had already put it on the table at the time, while the Germans initially had a loose collection of ideas between their ears. “The draft already included considerations on everything from prison management to a possible constitution.” Only those who are appropriately prepared can “get things right”.
Applause! But that evening we still finish eating in peace. Without having to frantically scribble clever strategic ideas on the napkins.