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A newly released FBI file on Steve Jobs paints a portrait of a driven, complex individual with a “tendency to distort reality” to achieve his goals.

The file, amassed in 1991 when President George H.W. Bush was considering Jobs for a seat on the President’s Export Council, reveals nothing about the late Apple co-founder not extensively explored in the 2011 biography of Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

At the time, Jobs — who had been ousted from Apple and was working as president of NeXT Inc. — had vacated his house at 460 Mountain Home Road in Woodside, where he lived from 1984 to July 1990, and was planning to marry, the report said.

Jobs checked “no” to questions on whether he had ever been arrested for a felony or drug or alcohol offense, or had been member of the Communist Party.

He also answered “no” to the question of whether he had used marijuana, cocaine, narcotics of hallucinogens in the past five years, though Jobs was an enthusiast of hallucinogens, according to the Isaacson book.

FBI agents reported that “several individuals commented concerning past drug use on the part of Mr. Jobs,” and “several individuals questioned Mr. Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals.

“They also commented that in the past, Mr. Jobs was not supportive of (the mother of his child born out of wedlock) and their daughter; however, he recently has become more supportive.”

By Palo Alto Weekly staff

By Palo Alto Weekly staff

By Palo Alto Weekly staff

SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2010. PHOTO BY ERIC LAWSON
SATURDAY, JULY 26, 2010. PHOTO BY ERIC LAWSON

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32 Comments

  1. Well, at least we now have a blueprint on how to be one of the most successful entrepreneurs ever! BTW – who says he distorted reality? What does that mean exactly? Does it mean he lied? I like the comments on the previous post – Does it (could it) mean he was visionary and saw the future before it happened (and, he helped shape it)?

  2. “marijuana, cocaine, narcotics of hallucinogens” “alcohol offense, or had been member of the Communist Party”

    Is that what it takes to become a visionary extraordinar?

    Is the Voice or FBI trying to push something here?

  3. sboj evets seems to be asking very useful questions…nicely done! I might add the question: where might there be an undistorted reality? What happens when the commentator’s view is distorted (including this commentator)? Come on, we as a society need more critical thinking skills from our NEWS reporters. What do I have to do, apply for work as a reporter for the Mountain View Voice? Or possibly the Palo Alto Weekly, since this story is referenced from that NEWS entity.

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