The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money, and Power

by Daniel Yergin

Mossadegh fluttered his hands weakly in greeting when Harriman and Walters entered, then wasted no time in telling Harriman exactly how he felt about the British. “You do not know how crafty they are,” said the Prime Minister. “You do not know how evil they are. You do not know how they sully everything they touch.” Harriman disagreed. He knew them well; he had been ambassador there. “I assure you they are good and bad and most of all in between,” said Harriman. Mossadegh leaned forward, took Harriman’s hand, and merely smiled. It was only in a later talk that Mossadegh happened to mention that his grandson, the apple of his eye, was away at school. “Where?” asked Harriman. “Why, in England, of course,” Mossadegh replied. “Where else?”