We Rhode Islanders know instinctively that we live in the center of the universe.

We’re not surprised when we learn that this celebrity or that sports legend began their careers in the Ocean State.

On Sunday, Sept. 22, my wife Celeste and I drove to the bucolic little town of Little Compton to help celebrate the 100^th birthday of John William Middendorf II, with about 100 of his relatives and friends. 

For our readers who haven’t heard of Ambassador Middendorf, he is probably one of the most remarkable Rhode Islanders that has ever lived.  And live he does. 

The setting of the birthday celebration was Bill’s simple, understated home overlooking about 95 acres of rolling farmland with cows, horses, donkeys and assorted animals meandering down to the Sakonnet River on that first day of fall. 

With tents set up, plenty of food and drink, and Bill’s latest book, “On My 100-Year Watch: Tyrants and Patriots,” co-written by my dear friend Ken Dooley, available for all to take along, the year and the setting could have just as easily been 1960.

There was an orchestra playing patriotic tunes, including (of course!) two that Bill wrote, the “Dewey Memorial March” and the “USS Middendorf March.”

Bill Middendorf is simply a Rhode Island treasure, who could fill volumes on his life and accomplishments.

Here are a few:

• 62^ndSecretary of the Unites States Navy
• US Ambassador to the Netherlands
• US Ambassador to the Organization of the American States
• US Ambassador to the European Union
• Head of a CIA Transition Team and advisor to Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan 

Speaking of President Reagan, we were told a story about how one day Reagan was meeting with British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and the Prime Minister told the President, “Ambassador Middendorf is my favorite Ambassador!”  When the President asked why, she answered. “Because when I talk, he always takes notes.”   Reagan laughed and said, “Margaret, he’s not taking notes, he’s sketching you!”  Not surprisingly, Bill is also an artist.

His intellectual writings and commentary are prolific, particularly when it comes to the global threat of communism.

For instance, during his tenure as Ambassador to the Organization of American States, which at the time was marked with revolutions in Nicaragua and El Salvador, Ambassador Middendorf was the steady hand that helped keep them out of the communist bloc.

He warned about Marxist Hugo Chavez and his friendship with other communist leaders like Mao Zedong and Fidel Castro.

The world has seen the damage forced upon the once thriving and beautiful Venezuela by wealth distribution and other communist manifestos.

Back to the party

Looking around, there was nothing but smiles and stories told among the guests — a “Who’s Who” among military brass, influential business and political leaders, including our own Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Gabe Amo. 

When Bill’s friend and co-author Ken Dooley (himself a noted author, playwright and screenwriter) took the microphone to start the speaking program, the only way to describe it was that we were witnessing an episode of the famous comedy team Martin and Lewis.

Ken Dooley, an octogenarian in his own right, was tossing out one hilarious line after line while the Ambassador played the straight man. 

The fun was interrupted, however, by some serious well-wishers like the current Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, who called in and was placed on a speaker to extend his best wishes on this momentous occasion.

Not missing the jovial beat, however, Secretary Del Toro not only praised the awe-inspiring history of Bill’s service to our nation, but had the place laughing when he said, “I don’t know what more I can do or say Bill…. I named a ship after you!”, referring to the commissioning of the USS J. William Middendorf, an Arleigh Burke Flight III Class Guided Missile Destroyer.

Ken Dooley kept the revelry going with a touching tribute by Senator Reed and well wishes from others. 

When Bill spoke, it was a mixture of serious observations of his view of the world past and present, with some comedic questions thrown in.

One which had us all scratching our heads in amazement was:

“Bill, I will give you three choices: recite the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights, or say the alphabet backwards.  You pick.”

Not missing a beat, the 100-year-old Ambassador calmly and forcefully recited the alphabet backwards perfectly.  (I can’t do that.  Can you?) 

After everyone stood with their mouths open, Bill gave his requested view of the world as it stands today.

View of the world

He did not mince words.

His theme was both uplifting and simultaneously with warning.

The uplifting was about America’s greatness as a people, and our steady and overwhelming military strength.

The warning was about the ever-increasing spread of Marxism in our country and the peril that it brings with it.

He recited one after another, the countries like Cuba and Venezuela that were fooled by the empty promises that the Marxists promote with their friends in the media and academia that sound appealing to a wide swath of people.

Promises like the re-distribution of wealth to make everyone equal, and the corruption of the educational process. 

But most of all, he warned that in his (vast) experience around the world, the spread of communism had one common denominator in countries that abandoned democracy — the confiscation of guns.

A chilling warning from a man that not only witnessed it but warned our government to not stand by idly while those countries raced to their own peril.

At the end of his riveting remarks, Bill welcomed everyone to come over and chat with him.

Not as mobile as he used to be, he relies on a chair to get around, but don’t be fooled.  He is still as sharp as a tack (witness the alphabet recited backwards), and still has a love for this country that is beyond inspiring. 

J. William Middendorf II will go down in history as one of the greatest Rhode Islanders who ever lived.

He served our great nation as few have.

He has won the love and respect of leaders and common folks around the globe and could fill his house with the awards and citations that he received, including, closer to home, induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame. 

But talking to him in that picture postcard setting on his farm in Little Compton, we walked away with the feeling that Bill Middendorf likes nothing better than sharing a conversation and a few laughs with his family and friends.

(Note: If you would like to order a copy of his recent book, go to
www.jwmiddendorf.com)