Interview transcript

– Hello?

– Yes, I’d like to speak to Robert Aumann, please.

– Yes, speaking.

– Hello. My name is Maria Ullsten. I am doing a recording for Nobelprize.org which is our official website.

– Okay.

– So I would like to wish you: Congratulations!

– Thank you.

– How did you find out that you had been awarded the Prize?

– Well, the Nobel Prize Foundation called me …

– And where were you?

– In my office; it’s just about an hour and a half ago. And they called me, and they told me. They told me … “Will you be in your office in fifteen minutes? We want to have a press conference.”

– Okay. During those fifteen minutes, what went through your mind?

– Well, I finished some letters that I was writing, and I thought … What went through my mind is that I was very glad.

– Did you call anyone?

– No.

– Did you tell anyone that you had won the Prize?

– Just a moment, there’s another … [cell-phone interference]

– I’ll wait.

– There’s another phone call.

– Okay.

[on other phone] /Hello? Hello? …/ Sorry. Yes?

– No problem. That’s all right. I realise you must have had a lot of people calling you today.

– Yes. I want to go home and change clothes and put on a suit, for this press conference that’s going to take place. But I don’t have the chance [cell phone signal], because every moment there’s a phone call.

– I understand.

– Here’s another phone …

– No problem. I’ll hold.

[on other phone] /Hello? …/ Hello.

– Yes. Hello!

– Yes, yes.

– I understand. You mentioned that you’d like to go home and put on a suit.

– Yes.

– Is there a ceremony or something planned?

– No. A press conference.

– A press conference.

– I really don’t know why I have to put on a suit for a press conference, but that’s what they told me.

– That’s what you were told. I understand. Have you had a chance to speak to your family yet?

– Just a moment. My boss wants to give me a kiss. Just a second. /…/ Hello?

– Yes, hello. Have you had a chance to speak to your family yet?

– Some of my family called me.

– So they know.

– Yes. Those who know, know. I didn’t tell anybody …

– Do you know how they found out that you got the Prize?

– I guess from the radio or the television, whatever.

– And did the Prize come as a complete surprise, or had it ever gone through your mind that you might get it one day?

– Has it ever gone through my mind that I might get the Prize? Well, yes it did.

– And have you been thinking about it at this time of year when the announcement is made?

– No, no, no, no no, no. No, no. Actually I gave up on it a long time ago.

– Okay. So who was the first person that you actually …?

– What? Excuse me?

– Who was the first person that you managed to tell about the Prize? Was it your …?

– I didn’t tell anybody. People came in, to me. I didn’t tell anybody.

– And have you had a chance to celebrate at all yet?

– No, no, no. It’s just the whole thing is an hour and a half old and people have been calling all the time.

– And in this hour and a half as a Prize-winner, how does it feel?

– It feels great.

– And could you also, in a few words, describe, for a young audience …? [cell phone signal]

– Could I tell …? Just a moment, please. /…/ Yes, excuse me?

– Yes, if you could describe, for a young audience, what exactly you have been awarded the Prize for.

– It’s for game theory, which is a … It’s a branch of science which studies situations where people interact and each person has a different goal. Each person wants to do the best that he can for himself, and … [cell phone signal]

[on other phone] /Hello? Hello? …/ Just a moment, please.

– Can I ask you – Thomas Schelling that you were awarded the Prize together with, have you had a chance to speak to him yet?

– No, I haven’t had a chance to speak to Tom, but … Certainly I’m delighted that he got it and I’m delighted to share it with him.

– And do you know each other very well, or …?

– Yes, we know each other fairly well.

– What will you …?

– We’ve known each other for many years.

– Getting this prize, what will it mean for your work? [cell phone signal]

– Just a moment, please. /…/ Yes.

– Yes. No problem. I understand it’s a hectic day. But, when you do get a chance, how will you celebrate the Prize?

– How will I celebrate?

– Yes.

– Oh, I don’t know. I guess we’ll go skiing.

– Okay. Where do you go skiing if you live in Israel?

– Just a moment, please.

[on other phone] /… Shalom …/ Hello?

– Yes. Hello. Are you still there?

– Just excuse me. /…/ I think we’d better … Because it’s impossible …

– I understand. I just really wanted to congratulate you on the Prize and we hope that we will see you in Stockholm then, in December.

– Thank you very, very much.

– Okay. Thank you.

– Okay. Bye!

– Bye-bye.

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