The Ugly American

by

Eugene Burdick and William J. Lederer

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George Swift is an American protocol officer in Sarkhan. George Swift does not understand how culturally important astrology is to the Sarkhanese. When Colonel Hillandale reads palms during a formal dinner with Sarkhanese heads of state, Swift mocks the performance as a “vaudeville stunt.” Because of his ignorance and irritation at Hillandale, Swift neglects to arrange an opportunity for Hillandale to read the Sarkhanese King’s palm, not realizing that it would be a major diplomatic opportunity for America. Swift’s neglect deeply offends the Sarkhanese and infuriates both Hillandale and MacWhite, and MacWhite requests that he be removed from his post.

George Swift Quotes in The Ugly American

The The Ugly American quotes below are all either spoken by George Swift or refer to George Swift. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Failure of the American Foreign Service Theme Icon
).
Chapter 15 Quotes

“When I was asked to read palms at the Philippine Ambassador’s dinner, it was a God-given opportunity. All of the Sarkhanese brass except the King were present. And then that knucklehead of an assistant of yours [Swift], instead of helping me, started laughing at me and trying to make a fool out of me. If he had an ounce of brains, he would have noticed how serious the Sarkhanese were. And if those fools in the State Department had briefed him properly, he would have known all about palmistry and astrology before he came here.”

Related Characters: Edwin B. Hillandale (speaker), Gilbert MacWhite, George Swift
Page Number: 167
Explanation and Analysis:
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George Swift Quotes in The Ugly American

The The Ugly American quotes below are all either spoken by George Swift or refer to George Swift. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
The Failure of the American Foreign Service Theme Icon
).
Chapter 15 Quotes

“When I was asked to read palms at the Philippine Ambassador’s dinner, it was a God-given opportunity. All of the Sarkhanese brass except the King were present. And then that knucklehead of an assistant of yours [Swift], instead of helping me, started laughing at me and trying to make a fool out of me. If he had an ounce of brains, he would have noticed how serious the Sarkhanese were. And if those fools in the State Department had briefed him properly, he would have known all about palmistry and astrology before he came here.”

Related Characters: Edwin B. Hillandale (speaker), Gilbert MacWhite, George Swift
Page Number: 167
Explanation and Analysis: