Indonesian President Sukarno Sought U.S. Help to Hire Cindy Adams for Autobiography
The journalist recounts how the State Department connected her with the Indonesian leader, who insisted she write his life story.
Cindy Adams, a columnist for The New York Post, has shared a story detailing how Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, specifically requested her to write his autobiography, enlisting the assistance of the U.S. State Department. Adams, then a young reporter living in Indonesia, had previously conducted a brief, lighthearted interview with Sukarno.
Sukarno, who had unified the vast archipelago then known as the Dutch East Indies into modern-day Indonesia, was affectionately called "Bapak," meaning "Father." Adams recalled making him laugh during their initial encounter by suggesting his military uniform was worn because he knew he looked handsome in it, rather than solely because he was the nation's father.
Months later, back in New York, Adams was contacted by the U.S. State Department. They informed her that Ambassador Howard Jones, the American envoy in Jakarta, had conveyed Sukarno's wish to compile his autobiography. Sukarno had reportedly dismissed numerous other potential writers, stating he only wanted "that lady"—referring to Adams—to undertake the project and asked the ambassador to find her.
Adams, who admitted to knowing little about Indonesia at the time, found herself inundated with calls from the ambassador, the State Department, and Sukarno's government. This led her to spend months studying the country's language and history before traveling to Indonesia. She spent many years working closely with Sukarno.
Describing Sukarno as a "magician" and Indonesia as his "stage," Adams noted the cultural differences she observed, including a less conventional approach to efficiency and employment. She recounted a nine-week struggle to obtain a photograph of Sukarno for her work, encountering locked files, an absent official, and a disconnected phone line.
Despite their professional relationship, which included laughter, arguments, and a mutual understanding, Adams maintained contact with Sukarno's family. Sukarno, a Muslim who was permitted up to four wives, had a Japanese wife named Dewi, whose daughter lives in London and grandson resides in the American Midwest. Adams stated that she can still recall some words of Bahasa, the native Indonesian language.
The story emerges amid current news reports that describe Indonesia as a "ticking time bomb," a stark contrast to the nation's perceived richness in resources like coffee, fruit, and oil during Sukarno's era. Adams recalled being targeted by anti-Americans at one point and being safely evacuated by Ambassador Jones.