Video of Morris A. Cohen

Duration of video is 10 minutes

The contributor, essarem, wrote regarding the video from 1943 on   Video of Morris Abraham Cohen | Gwulo  : "both a powerful image of, and a forceful voice recording of, General Cohen".

The POWERFULNESS and FORCEFULNESS is also evident, 17 or so years later, in the 1960 video which shows Cohen's fighting spirit and strength of character - he was aged in his early seventies but he was a tough nut to crack (I would not want to get on the wrong side of him).

 

Front Page Challenge was a Canadian panel game show.

The introduction given by the show's host: "Our illustrious guest is General Morris A. Cohen..." (applause)

Cohen says many interesting things, including "I would like to make that point clear."  "... and it's for China, that I've been working, not for any individual in China.  Except the late Dr Sun Yat-sen, the first president."

When asked a question by one of the panelists about compensation for the British in Shanghai, Cohen faces the challenge and does not back down in his explanatory reply.

One of the panelists refers to Cohen as "picturesque" and "soldier of fortune", and Cohen replies twice in the negative: "I don't consider myself, a soldier of fortune" and "I am not a soldier of fortune, and I'm not so picturesque." (laughter from the panelists and audience is heard)
 
The host ends the interview with: "Thank you, Sir, for being a fascinating guest." (applause)
 
Regarding Cohen's demeanour in this 1960 video, I get the impression that he was stern but fair.  
He deserved the applause given.
 

 

Date picture taken
18 May 1960

Comments

Thank you Colleague “aagg” for providing us all with yet another well-chosen example of the combative Chinese general in full, though, somehow seemingly restrained, flight.

In the past (1998), I have described General Cohen as a supreme organizer with a dynamic personality and a dominating will; rare qualities indeed, and ones that he quite clearly utilized to great effect in the service of Dr Sun Yat-sen, ‘The Father of Modern China’. But forceful personalities like General Cohen, willing to champion unpopular causes, have inevitably had their detractors as well as their admirers.

It seems, though, that if there were indeed any detractors in this overwhelmingly supportive, 1960 Canadian audience, then they were unwilling to take on the disarmingly charming General Cohen head-to-head on this particular occasion. I can’t say that I blame them!

Thanks, essarem, for your input.

It is interesting to see how the strong-willed Cohen talks about himself and there is an air of honesty about him.  Such a pity that the interview was not longer.