New York Times
December 5, 2011
What do you do if you’re a voluble American official whose words have been known to raise eyebrows, and you’re visiting the epicenter of Europe’s debt crisis at the start of a crucial week for the euro?
Speak little, and when you do, try to keep it light.
On Monday, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. introduced a member of his delegation to Greece’s president, Karolos Papoulias. “This man represents the Treasury Department,” said a deadpan Mr. Biden. “He’s brought hundreds of millions of dollars.”
His Greek hosts, who knew full well that Mr. Biden brought no offers of American aid, dissolved into laughter.
Thus the vice president cleared the first hurdle of a day filled with many. His aides steered him away from opportunities to rattle European nerves as its leaders were immersed in delicate debt negotiations. A wreath-laying was canceled, and there were no news conferences or other public appearances.
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