The Iron Duke

[snopes]

As I watched Hank Paulson last weekend, I was reminded of an old story about the Duke of Wellington.

Recalling in later years his first Cabinet meeting as prime minister, the Iron Duke is supposed to have expressed bewilderment: “I couldn't understand it,” he said. “I called them in, gave them their orders and they wanted to sit and discuss them.”

It might, I fear, be apocryphal, but like all such stories it still captures something essential - in this case, the imperiousness and bluff ingenuousness of the old Duke as he made the awkward transition from military genius to mere politician.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle4805984.ece