 He was handsome, a genius, romantic and taught that thinking and "aliveness" were but one.The 17-year-old Arendt then began a long romantic relationship with the 35-year-old Heidegger, who was married with two young sons.Arendt later faced criticism for this because of Heidegger's support for the Nazi Party after being elected rector at the University of Freiburg in 1933.