General Petraeus Returns
General Petraeus Returns
By Mike Vilensky
Is David Petraeus KKR's Global Institute Chair stepping back into public life?
The former U.S. military general has kept a low profile since stepping down as director of the Central Intelligence Agency a year ago, but he turned up at a New York City gala in his honor Monday evening. "I am convinced that [Gen. Petraeus] has not served his last day in public service," said Jack Keane, another retired general. "He will be back, to be sure."
The New-York Historical Society bestowed Gen. Petraeus and businessman Roger Hertog with awards during a swanky affair at the Pierre. The organization's president and chief executive, Louise Mirrer, praised Gen. Petraeus's "groundbreaking work in Iraq" and Mr. Hertog's "dedication to the power of ideas."
Henry Kissinger and General David Petraeus Don Pollard
Pam Schafler, Roger Hertog and Louise Mirrer Don Pollard. Don Pollard. Don Pollard
The Historical Society maintains a Manhattan museum and library, founded in 1804, devoted to work involving New York's city and state history. Attendees at the event included former New York Gov.George Pataki, former Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman, writer Niall Ferguson and a handful of hedge-fund managers.
Gen. Petraeus said the attendees included "masters of the universe, my goodness." The gala raised more than $3 million for the society.
Since his resignation from the CIA, after admitting to having an extramarital affair with his biographer, Gen. Petraeus has been lecturing at the City University of New York and working at a private-equity firm. Antiwar activists protested Gen. Petraeus's award on social media and outside the Pierre.
In wide-ranging remarks, he joked about "a midlevel executive working at a financial firm, frustrated at getting passed over for promotion" who visits a brain-transplant center where "an ounce of a television reporter's brains" goes for cheap, and an ounce of a four-star general's brain is expensive.
"Do you have any idea how many generals it takes to get an ounce of brains?" goes the punch line.
"That's just a joke, I think," Gen. Petraeus said afterward. "When you reach this point in life, you're only as good as the material they give you."
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