Journal Frankfurt Nachrichten – The new captain
Norman Thatcher Scharpf has been US Consul General in Frankfurt since August. In conversation, he talks about his tasks, his Hessian ancestors and reveals his favorite places in the city.
Norman Thatcher-Scharpf: Not yet. But I’ve already eaten green sauce with schnitzel and hard-boiled eggs, and I liked it.
You have been Consul General in Frankfurt since August. Is this your first time in Frankfurt?
I’ve been to Frankfurt a few times, but that was a long time ago. For the last time in 2005 as part of a conference. I remember the downtown Christmas market.
Has Frankfurt changed in your eyes?
I’m not an expert as I’ve only spent a short time in the city, but Frankfurt seems more modern to me. The skyline in particular has become concise. The city has done a good job in terms of bike lanes and green spaces. Whenever my family and I were out, we paid particular attention to parks and playgrounds. In the meantime my children have outgrown the playground, but for me the condition of these facilities is an indicator of how successful a city is. Since we have two dogs, we still like to be out in the parks.
What other places in Frankfurt do you like to be?
I like to go downtown. I find it remarkable how the city was rebuilt from WWII. If you take an American there who is unfamiliar with history he would think many of these buildings are hundreds of years old.
Do you mean the new old town?
Yes, the buildings regenerate me to think about history.
The US Consulate General in Frankfurt is the largest in Europe.
Yes, that’s right. We have more than 1000 employees. From here we support our embassies and consulates around the world. Frankfurt is well connected, central and also in the same time zone as many other embassies in Europe and Africa.
How would you describe your tasks to our readers?
I make sure that all employees work perfectly together in the interests of the US government. I also represent the United States to the authorities and the public. I keep in touch with the state governments of Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland, as well as with the city governments. Of course, there are also economic interests: The US is investing in Germany, Germany is one of the US’s trading partners. Frankfurt plays a major role as an international banking and trading center.
How do you become a US Consul General? Can you apply for this job or do you get involved?
The appointment is made through an application process. 99 percent of all positions are subject to the strict rotation principle. I will be here in Frankfurt for three years. When I came to Washington in 2018 and started planning my future career, it was clear that my wife and I wanted to go back to Europe. I have spent a large part of my diplomatic career in Europe. This is my seventh stop in Europe.
The photo of you was taken at the Airlift Memorial. What does this place mean for you?
This is where German-American relations become tangible. This place symbolizes what is possible when our two nations work together. It is important to keep the memories alive. The place reminds us of our common history and our common values. But he also warns us to find common solutions for the challenges of the future, be it climate change, sustainable economy or the Covid crisis.
German-American relations have not always been the best in recent years. What has to happen now?
I know from conversations with Germans that the most important thing is to restore trust. The Covid crisis was not beneficial because face-to-face encounters became impossible. The solution now lies in collaboration, for example at the technological level.
The younger generation has not seen the successful history of our relationships. How can we make the meaning clear to the younger generation? We have regular meetings with a youth council to come up with ideas on how this trust can be restored.
Some of their ancestors come from Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. You also have German roots.
Yes, that’s right. My ancestors immigrated to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, around 1860 in search of a better life. They came from poor backgrounds. Four generations later, I’m here as a US diplomat with 75 percent German roots.
This interview was first published in the November issue (11/21) of JOURNAL FRANKFURT.