#159 Andy Grove Intel

In "Swimming Across," Andy Grove recounts his harrowing journey from a tumultuous childhood in war-torn Hungary to becoming a key figure in Silicon Valley. Born into the rise of fascism and surviving Nazi occupation, Grove experienced the horrors of the Holocaust, the Soviet invasion, and the crushing of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. His escape to America marked the start of a new chapter, where he overcame the challenges of being an immigrant to eventually lead Intel as its CEO. Grove's story, as shared by the host, is a testament to human resilience and the transformative power of determination and opportunity in the face of adversity.

• Andy Grove was born in 1936 in Budapest, Hungary and experienced multiple regime changes by the age of 20.
• Hungary was initially aligned with Nazi Germany and later declared war on the Allies during World War II.
• Following the retreat of German and Hungarian forces, Hungary was occupied by the Soviet Red Army.
• The period after World War II saw the rise of repressive communist regimes in Hungary.
• Andy Grove lived through the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, which was suppressed by Soviet armed forces, leading to his escape to the West.

"By the time I was 20, I had lived through a Hungarian fascist dictatorship, German military occupation, the Nazis Final Solution, the siege of Budapest by the Soviet Red Army, a period of chaotic democracy...and a pop uprising that was put down at gunpoint." This quote highlights the tumultuous and oppressive political environments Grove experienced during his formative years, which included fascist, Nazi, and communist regimes, as well as a popular uprising.

• The German occupation of Hungary led to the deportation and extermination of Hungarian Jews.
• Adolf Eichmann oversaw the deportation of Jews to concentration camps.
• The advancing Soviet forces and the Western Allies' successes halted the deportation process.

"Gestapo official Adolf Eichmann, who oversaw the implementation of the Nazis final solution, took personal charge of the deportation and extermination of Hungarian Jews." This quote underscores Eichmann's direct involvement in the Holocaust and the tragic fate of Hungarian Jews, emphasizing the severity of the Nazi's Final Solution.

• Andy Grove's father was conscripted into a labor battalion and sent to the Russian front, where many did not return.
• The Jewish community in Budapest was left vulnerable, with the absence of men leading to increased anxiety and substance use among the women.
• Grove's mother received notification of his father's disappearance, and the community anticipated the forced relocation of Jews to ghettos.

"In 1942, when I was five years old, my father was called up into the army...This time, though, it was going to be different." This quote reflects the personal impact of the war on Grove's family, with his father's conscription into forced labor and the uncertainty of his return.

• Andy Grove witnessed the effects of air raids and bombings on Budapest as a child.
• His mother had to take precautionary measures to protect them during air raids.
• The destruction caused by bombings left a lasting impression on Grove.

"From time to time we had air raids...Everyone filled into the room and took their places. Nobody talked much." This quote conveys the fear and disruption caused by air raids, as well as the community's attempts to seek safety together.

• The death of Joseph Stalin led to a temporary relaxation of totalitarian controls in Hungary.
• The Hungarian Revolution of 1956 was a response to communist oppression, but it was crushed by Soviet forces.
• Andy Grove was among the 200,000 Hungarians who fled to the West following the revolution.

"Stalin died in March 1953, and a gradual relaxation of totalitarian controls took place." This quote indicates a brief period of respite from the intense repression under Stalin's rule, setting the stage for the eventual uprising.

• "Swimming Across" is Andy Grove's autobiography, which details his life experiences under different regimes.
• The book is highly recommended and provides a vivid account of Grove's early life and the challenges he faced.

"It's one of the best books I have ever read...It was absolutely amazing." This quote expresses the profound impact "Swimming Across" had on the reader, highlighting its emotional depth and the compelling nature of Grove's story.

• Restrictions on Jews intensified, including the prohibition of radio ownership and public segregation.
• Jews were forced to wear the yellow Star of David and experienced increasing isolation and discrimination.
• Grove's mother faced arrest for accepting food from a non-Jewish neighbor, illustrating the harsh realities of living under anti-Semitic laws.

"Jews were no longer permitted to own a radio...Government posters appeared on the walls of buildings describing the latest regulations applying to Jews." This quote depicts the systematic stripping of rights and freedoms from Hungarian Jews, as well as the psychological impact of constant surveillance and control.

• Grove and his mother were forced to assume new identities to survive, a testament to their resilience and adaptability.
• They experienced close calls with death and were subjected to the violence of war, including encounters with Russian soldiers.

"I was with my mother and I had to learn a new name. I understood that I had to memorize it to the point where it was part of me. I couldn't make a mistake." This quote highlights the high stakes and fear associated with assuming a false identity, emphasizing the life-or-death importance of Grove's ability to adapt to his new name and backstory.

• Andy Grove recalls being taken by a neighbor woman for safety during a distressing time.
• His mother was tense and angry upon returning, which was out of character for her.
• Russian soldiers entered their cellar, and Andy's mother managed to drive them away.
• The family witnessed the aftermath of war in Budapest, including dead bodies and a man cutting meat from a dead horse.
• They visited the apartment of a family friend, a decorated Jewish officer, who had been killed by the Arrow Cross along with his family.

"The neighbor woman took me into her bed and put her arm around me. I lay there stunned and full of apprehension." "My mother yelled at them, something about how all three of the women had already done it." "We kept walking. At one intersection, I saw a man lying in the street, face down, his legs and arms sprawled out." "The Arrow Cross had taken him and his wife and his children, who were younger than I, out to an empty lot nearby and shot the entire family."

These quotes illustrate the traumatic experiences Andy endured as a child during the war, including exposure to death and the murder of a family friend by the Arrow Cross.

• Andy's family returns to Budapest and reclaims their old apartment, though it was damaged.
• Andy's mother actively searched for his father, believing he was in a Russian prison camp, resulting in multiple trips to the train station.
• Andy's father eventually returns home, emaciated but alive, reuniting the family.
• The return of Andy's father marked the beginning of a transition towards communism in Hungary.

"After a while, my mother came back for me. She was very tense and angry." "The next day we did it again. I didn't want to go." "An emaciated man, filthy and in a ragged soldier's uniform, was standing at the open door."

These quotes capture the emotional rollercoaster of Andy's mother's search for her husband, the strenuous efforts involved, and the poignant moment of their family's reunion.

• Andy found solace in reading, particularly enjoying novels by Carl May and C.S. Forrester.
• He identified with strong fictional characters, imagining himself as a hero like Horatio Hornblower.
• Reading provided an escape from the harsh realities of post-war life and communist Hungary.

"My favorite books were by Carl May... I read quite a bit." "I fancied myself as a later day Captain Hornblower, a man of few but deeply thought out words."

Andy used literature as a means of coping with his circumstances, drawing inspiration from the characters he read about to foster resilience and a sense of justice.

• The communist party took control of Hungary, nationalizing businesses, including Andy's family's dairy business.
• Andy's father was reassigned to a state company, and the family's life was increasingly disrupted by the communist government.
• The government's interference in education forced Andy to change schools, illustrating the extent of control over personal lives.

"In August 1948, the communists won and took charge of the government." "Increasingly employing somebody was considered the same as exploiting them."

These quotes reflect the sweeping changes and the negative impact of communism on Andy's family's lives, including the loss of their business and personal freedoms.

• Andy's father faced government criticism, leading to his dismissal and restrictions on future employment.
• The family became socially isolated as people stopped visiting them, fearing association with someone who had fallen out of government favor.
• Andy's academic excellence provided a beacon of hope, with his physics teacher predicting his success despite the challenges.

"My uncle and his son in law were arrested in the middle of the night." "My father was fired from his job." "Life is like a big lake. All the boys get in the water at one end and start swimming. Not all of them will swim across, but one of them I sure will, and that is Grove."

These quotes depict the personal trials Andy's family faced under communist rule, including arrests without charge, job loss, and societal ostracism, contrasted with the encouragement from his teacher about his potential.

• Andy contemplates the stark contrast between his difficult childhood and his successful career later in life.
• He reflects on the importance of being prepared for drastic changes in life, drawing parallels with his own family history and the potential for such events to occur anywhere.
• Andy's story underscores the unpredictability of life and the need to remain vigilant and adaptable.

"I always think about what happened to my family. It's like, I don't want that to happen to my kids." "Imagine yourself as 15 year old Andy Grove. Everything you've gone through, all the uncertainties, that's ahead."

These quotes highlight Andy's philosophical musings on the nature of life's challenges and the drive to overcome adversity, informed by his past experiences and the desire to protect his future family.

• Rumors of deportations spread fear among the populace, creating a pervasive atmosphere of dread.
• High-ranking party officials were rumored to covet the apartments of those targeted for deportation.

"it was implied that the real reason they were targeted was that high ranking party officials coveted their apartment."

This quote highlights the underlying motives behind the deportations, suggesting corruption and abuse of power by officials.

• Andy Grove's father experiences a loss of job and respect due to the communist regime.
• The father initially avoids discussing or acknowledging the regime's actions but eventually opens up about his horrific experiences.
• Discussions of such topics within the family were discouraged, and the father remained largely silent until everything was taken from him.

"And so before that's taken away from him, Andy's talking about all the... And his dad either shuts down the discussion totally or know, don't talk about that."

The quote emphasizes the fear and repression that stifled open conversations about the regime's actions, even within families.

• Andy's father shares harrowing stories of his captivity, including the brutal treatment of Hungarian Jews by Russians.
• The father's survival story is particularly poignant, with only 10% of his work battalion surviving.
• A chilling anecdote involves prisoners being frozen to death by guards for amusement.

"The story that was most incredible to me was how in the middle of one bitterly cold winter night, my father's battalion was made to strip naked and climb trees."

This quote conveys the inhumanity and brutality experienced by the father during his captivity, illustrating the extreme conditions and cruelty of the captors.

• Andy's father treasures pictures of his family, which gave him strength during his darkest times.
• The father scribbled goodbye messages on the backs of these photos, thinking he would not survive the war.
• These personal artifacts and messages deeply affected Andy, providing insight into his father's love and despair.

"My father treasured these pictures. They never left his body. They gave him strength when he needed it most."

The quote underscores the emotional significance of the photographs to Andy's father and their role in his survival.

• Andy aspires to be a chemist and improve his life despite the oppressive communist regime.
• His family's pre-communism background as small business owners leads to Andy being classified as a 'class alien' and initially rejected from university.
• Connections and manipulation of paperwork were necessary to secure Andy's admission to the University of Budapest.

"I had been classified as a class alien and was being rejected."

This quote illustrates the class-based discrimination that affected educational opportunities and the necessity of using connections to overcome systemic barriers.

• Andy discovers the importance of having more than one interest in life to maintain balance and well-being.
• His passion for opera and singing provides a counterbalance to the challenges he faces in his chemistry studies.
• Andy's realization is presented as a metaphor for life, emphasizing the value of diverse pursuits.

"I realized that it's good to have at least two interests in your life."

The quote reflects Andy's personal growth and the lesson he learned about the benefits of having multiple interests to sustain one's mood and motivation.

• The revolution begins with a public discussion by journalists revealing their complicity in spreading government lies.
• A twelve-point program of political reform is formulated by students, leading to mass demonstrations and the removal of communist symbols.
• The uprising is initially successful, with political parties re-emerging and the Russians withdrawing, but anxiety about the future remains.

"I sensed that I was witnessing something unusual and significant."

Andy recognizes the historical importance of the events unfolding, as well as the potential dangers they represent.

• The initial excitement of the revolution gives way to fear as the Russians return with force.
• Andy and his family experience the violence firsthand, with mortar rounds striking their building and Russian soldiers taking over their apartment.
• Discussions about escaping Hungary become serious, with Andy weighing the risks and opportunities of leaving.

"Escaping became a recurring topic of conversation between my parents and me."

This quote captures the dilemma faced by Andy and his family as they consider the dangerous prospect of fleeing their country amidst the chaos of the revolution.

• Andy Grove, at the age of 20, faced a life-altering decision to leave Hungary due to the political climate.
• His aunt Mancy, an Auschwitz survivor, urged him to leave immediately after witnessing Russian soldiers abducting young people.
• Despite the communist regime's negative portrayal of America, it appeared as a land of opportunity and modernity to Andy.
• Andy faced challenges such as not knowing how to leave and feeling scared.

Andy, you must go. I stared at her. You must go, she repeated, and you must go now.

This quote emphasizes the urgency and seriousness of Andy's need to leave Hungary as conveyed by his aunt Mancy.

• Andy's father's friend was supposed to help him upon arrival in Austria, but that plan failed.
• 200,000 Hungarian refugees were fleeing to Austria during this period.
• Andy and a group of young people were led by a Hungarian smuggler who guided them through fields and woods to the Austrian border.

We would walk for five or 10 minutes in a field or through the woods, and he would materialize from the dark, tell us to head in a slightly different direction, and then disappear again.

This quote describes the tense and secretive nature of the escape to Austria, with the smuggler appearing and disappearing to guide them.

• Upon reaching Austria, Andy experienced a mix of fear and relief.
• The group encountered kind individuals who risked their lives to help the refugees.
• They were helped by a Hungarian-speaking woman who guided them to catch a train to Vienna.

Relax, you're in Austria.

This quote signifies the moment of relief and safety when Andy and his companions realized they had successfully escaped Hungary.

• Andy Grove's determination led him to secure a spot to immigrate to America through the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
• His proficiency in English and his impassioned plea to the IRC representatives played a crucial role in his acceptance.
• Andy marveled at the efficiency and resources of America, as seen through the ships built for troop transport post-World War II.

I felt strange about approaching people I've never met with a quest for help. I couldn't afford luxuries, like embarrassment.

Andy's humility and practicality are evident in this quote as he seeks help in a foreign country.

• Andy Grove was astounded by the abundance and technological advancements in America, such as real coffee and a polio vaccine.
• He was influenced by Patrick Collison's book recommendations, including "Freedom's Forge," which details America's industrial response during WWII.

It seemed incredible to me that ships would be built for just one purpose.

This quote reflects Andy's amazement at America's capacity for dedicated manufacturing for the war effort.

• Andy worked hard to balance his studies and jobs, taking advantage of the opportunities in America.
• He eventually moved to California for graduate school and fell in love with the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Andy Grove's success story includes becoming CEO of Intel and being named Time magazine's Man of the Year.

I've continued to be amazed by the fact that as I progressed through school and my career, no one has ever resented my success.

This quote highlights Andy's gratitude for the acceptance and opportunities he received in the United States as an immigrant.

• Andy Grove reflects on the support he received throughout his journey, from scholarships to mentorship.
• He attributes his achievements not only to his own efforts but also to the help and encouragement from others.
• The story concludes with a sense of ongoing perseverance and gratitude.

Not without effort, not without setbacks, and with a great deal of help and encouragement from others. I'm still swimming.

Andy uses the metaphor of swimming to describe his continuous efforts and progress in life, acknowledging the support he received along the way.