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Baroody's greatest moment came in 1965 when, in the eyes of some—most notably himself—he all but saved the organization from disintegration. The Soviet Union was then withholding its dues because Moscow opposed U.N. peace-keeping operations in the Congo and the Middle East; the U.S. was insisting that Russia pay up before it could vote. Everyone was intent on avoiding a collision between the two powers—except for Peking's agent, the delegate from Albania, who insisted on a vote that would have plunged the great gold and blue hall into turmoil. Standing at the rostrum and trying to outshout the General Assembly's President, who was trying to ignore him, the Albanian insisted on being heard. Baroody marched up to the rostrum, told the Albanian that he could speak first next day, and led the startled delegate by the arm back to his seat.
Two weeks ago, Baroody was at his best during a rancorous slanging match between the Soviet Union and China. As usual, he was ready with an Arabic proverb: "The wind and the sea had a quarrel, but the one who paid the price was the sailor in the boat. We are all of us in the boat." For that speech, Baroody last week received an unusual tribute from U.S. Delegate Edward J. Derwinski: "The oratorical skill of the distinguished delegate is almost overpowering. I am convinced that if Mr. Winston Churchill in his heyday had debated Mr. Baroody, he would have come across second best." Chances are that Baroody does not consider the compliment exaggerated.