Total recall: Arnold Schwarzenegger DID express admiration for Adolf Hitler... but just for his powerful oratory skills



In 2003 as he campaigned to become the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger denied that in 1975 he had expressed admiration for German dictator Adolf Hitler.

But now he appears have had total recall of the facts of the statement he made in 1975, as the 65-year-old revealed in his autobiography he did make admiring comments about the leader of the Nazi Party in high esteem - but just his speaking abilities.



The truth: Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted that he lied about denying he admires Adolf Hitler



Arnold's controversial comments about Hitler occurred about three decades ago during a discussion with George Butler whilst filming scenes for the 1977 documentary Pumping Iron.

According to NY Daily News , in his autobiography Total Recall he writes: 'I philosophized that only a few men are born to lead, while the rest of humanity is born to follow, and went from that into discussing history’s great conquerors and dictators'.



Keen to put his comments into context he continues: 'I admired Hitler’s speaking ability, though not what he did with it.'

Rectifying his words: The 65-year-old has explained that he was fond of the Nazi leader's 'speaking ability'



Schwarzenegger's recent admission is in direct contrast to what he said during a late-night news conference at Los Angeles' Century Plaza Hotel in 2003.



Reports on Fox News , quoted the True Lies actor's denial regarding his words in 1975 as: 'I don't remember any of those comments because I always despise everything that Hitler stood for.'



Schwarzenegger, who's father Gustav Schwarzenegger applied to join the Nazi Party in 1938, then went on to call Hitler a 'disgusting villain' in the interview.

His words: 'I admired Hitler, for instance, because he came from being a little man with almost no formal education, up to power.'

Arnold's Hitler comment never made it into the final cut of Butler's film, but his words taken from the transcript of his interview with the director surfaced when ABC News and the New York Times received copies of an unpublished book proposal.

In the original interview, the Terminator actor allegedly said: 'I admired Hitler, for instance, because he came from being a little man with almost no formal education, up to power.



He added: 'I admire him for being such a good public speaker and for what he did with it.'

Arnold's representative confirmed: 'The governor said in the book something he, and countless others have said numerous times: that he had powerful oratory skills.'

