Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs was in the running for a presidential cabinet appointment under the first President Bush in 1991, and the FBI has released its background investigation file on the man. According to the people the agency interviewed, Mr. Jobs was driven, deceptive, and would be great for the job.
Mr. Jobs was being considered for an appointment to the President’s Export Council, although in the end he was passed over.
FBI releases Steve Jobs investigation
The report includes interesting comments about Mr. Jobs, such as “Several individuals commented concerning past drug use on the part of Mr. Jobs,” and “Several individuals questioned Mr. Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals.”
Not everyone was happy to have called Mr. Jobs “friend.”
[redacted] advised that he is no longer friends with Mr. Jobs. He feels bitter towards and alienated by Mr. Jobs based upon his association with Mr. Jobs at ACI. He characterized Mr. Jobs as an honest and trustworthy individual; however his moral character is questionable. [Redacted] explained he [redacted] did not receive any stock, which would have made him quite wealthy now.
Mr. Redacted is most likely Daniel Kottke, Apple employee number 12. He helped build and test the original Apple I computer with Steve Wozniak, and was a close friend to Mr. Jobs. The two even traveled to India together on a spiritual quest.
Mr. Jobs also had top secret clearance between August 1988 and July 1990 while he was part of PIXAR. The report doesn’t, however, say why he was granted the clearance level.
Along with comments on Mr. Jobs’s character, the report also noted he was the target of a bomb threat in 1985. The potential attacker demanded a US$1 million, although it appears the threat never went anywhere.
Overall, the report makes Mr. Jobs sound like a charismatic and driven man that could spin facts to his advantage — something that should sound very familiar to anyone that’s ever seen him speak at a conference or media event.
[Thanks to Gawker for the heads up.]