Today in History – 9 April

On human relations and tolerance

İsmet İnönü strongly adhered to his principles and was a hard-working and disciplined man. Yet in his relations with people, he maintained a measured sincerity and avoided impulsive acts. Modesty was one of his most typical characteristics. His modesty was most evident in his relationship with his inferiors and the public and allowed him to communicate easily with everyone. He would not hesitate to share his faults and sincere ideas with others. Moreover, his calm demeanor, temperament, and balanced approach to events were among other aspects of his personality. Staying away from adventures and utopist ideas, İnönü was a complete “man of equilibrium” in that respect.

In İnönü’s own words, these characteristics were reflected on his political career and his relations with his colleagues as follows:

As we entered the multiparty system, we reached a new level of relations with opposition parties. Even then, I acted with respect to the other side. I always tried to be careful in mutual relations…

When I became the prime minister during war and in the first governments of the Republic, I got along well with my ministers and everyone I worked with. Even after some of them parted ways with me and formed opposition parties, I got along well with them and I was thankful to them in the course of our collaboration. My colleagues were always supportive when I served as prime minister. I always draw well the borders of my position. Naturally, we work well within those borders.