After the death of Israel's first president,
Chaim Weizmann, in November 1952, Prime Minister
David Ben-Gurion offered Einstein the position of
President of Israel, a mostly ceremonial post.
[51] The offer was presented by Israel's ambassador in Washington,
Abba Eban, who explained that the offer "embodies the deepest respect which the Jewish people can repose in any of its sons".
[39]:522 However, Einstein declined, and wrote in his response that he was "deeply moved", and "at once saddened and ashamed" that he could not accept it