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Hot Temper. Schmidt is regarded as less of a European visionary than Brandt, but he does believe in economic integration, and many Eurocrats consider him less narrowly nationalistic than top policymakers in London and Paris. Schmidt's elevation to Chancellor is welcomed by Washington because of his record as an advocate of a strong Atlantic Alliance. He has said that "West European unification cannot and must not be achieved in opposition to the U.S." Observers in Bonn expect Schmidt to place less emphasis on Ostpolitik than Brandt did. He will probably be tougher with the Communists in granting generous credits and trade concessions.
Schmidt has been hospitalized at least three times in the past two years for a chronic thyroid condition that tends to aggravate his hot temper and sharp tongue. However, he has apparently recovered his health sufficiently to sail and throw the javelin at his lakeside weekend house in Schleswig-Holstein. During the week he lives with his wife Hannelore in a Bonn apartment, where he often relaxes after 18-hour work days by listening to Baroque harpsichord and organ music. He is also an avid chess player. Two summers ago he and his wife spent several evenings replaying the games of Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky at the world championship in Iceland. Invariably, Schmidt played the game of the aggressive American challenger.