Note Describes Steve Jobs As Secretive 'Joker' Who 'Sounds Flakey'

Bloomberg has published a note written by Mike Rose in June 1976 that describes Steve Jobs as a secretive 'joker' who 'sounds flakey'.

At the time Steve Jobs was looking for someone to print the manual for the Apple I. Jobs' friend Regis McKenna, head of Silicon Valley's premier advertising and public relations firm, suggested he contact Mike Rose who ran an advertising agency in Los Altos.

After Rose spoke with Jobs on the phone he left a note for his business partner, warning him that Jobs would likely be in touch.


Here's what it said:

Bob -
This joker (attached) is going to be calling you. Somebody at Regis McKenna reco - mended us (you). They are 2 guys - They build kits - operate out of a garage - want 10m [?] catalog sheets. Wants it for nothing. Wouldn't trust me. Told him we'd like to see what they've got - we'd estimate - Then decide.

Sounds flakey. Watch it!

Mike


Jobs' ended up rejected Rose's bid for being too high and had a typesetter produce the Apple I manual. The note was donated to the Silicon Valley Archives at Stanford in 1998.

Read More