Posted by William Neikirk at 12:20 p.m. CDT
As the world reacts to Boris Yeltsin's death, many will remember his fondness for bluster and good strong drink.
It didn't seem to bother him when he appeared in public under the influence. When I covered the Clinton administration, I remember a few press conferences between Bill Clinton and Yeltsin when it seemed the Russian president seemed inebriated.
Perhaps the most memorable occurred in 1995 at Hyde Park in New York, where Clinton and Yeltsin had a summit conference prior to an appearance at the United Nations. At the time, Yeltsin and Clinton were trying to work out a deal on Bosnia, but there were sharp differences.
According to a book by Strobe Talbott, the Clinton administration's top Russian official, Yeltsin had polished off most of a bottle of wine at lunch and insisted on an after-lunch drink. He wanted nothing to do with the sweet dessert wine put before him. He wanted cognac.
When they appeared before the press corps, Yeltsin went on the attack, directing his fire at a media that he said had predicted his summit with Clinton would turn into a disaster over Bosnia.
"Now, for the first time, I can tell you that you're a disaster," he said, pointing directly into the camera.
There was a brief pause, and then Clinton started laughing. "Just make sure you get the attribution right," he said, referring to the press. And he kept on laughing, and Yeltsin finally joined in, too. Clinton's laugh was so loud and long that Talbott said it did not appear convincing.
"I sensed that Clinton was trying to cover for Yeltsin," Talbott wrote. "Perhaps he figured that if both presidents seemed to be clowning around, there would be less of a focus in the news stories on Yeltin's inebriation."
After it was over, Talbott reported that Clinton soothed him about the performance.
Clinton said, according to Talbott: "You know, we've got to remember that Yeltsin's got his problems, but he's a good man. He's trying to do his best in the face of a lot of problems back home. I think we're going to get this Bosnia deal done, and it's harder for him than it is for me. I've got problems, but nothing like this. We can't ever forget that Yeltsin drunk is better than most of the alternatives sober."
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Comments
I miss Bubba, a guy who could actually get along with other countries.
Travel outside the USA nowdays and you'll find that Americans are hated because of the corrupt GOP regime that's been in office here since 2000.
Thanks Neocons!
Posted by: John E | April 23, 2007 12:47 PM
John E., I travel outside the USA quite a bit (September in Berlin; December, Brussels; January, Kassel, Germany; March, Paris; and I've found no such thing. I go to restaurants, stay in hotels, shop in stores, and get treated pretty much as I get treated here.
In September I became lost while walking in the suburbs north of Berlin and stopped in a bar to ask for directions. When they found I was an American they wanted to buy me a beer!
I sit on an industry committee that deals with the European Commission. The chairman of the group, a Frenchman that I met only in December, wanted me to be his assistant. I'm the only American on the committee; all the rest are Europeans.
They don't hate us at all. They may disagree with us politically, but it's not personal.
Some of the Swamp posters could take some lessons from them.
Posted by: Dave Brann | April 23, 2007 3:59 PM
Dave,
I think you're making that up, man. C'mon, everyone knows that everyone in the world determines their feelings for Americans based on who is in the White House. When Clinton was in, they loved us. With Bush, they hate us. With Obama or Clinton Part II, they will love us again. The blogs tell us so. Get it right, Dave.
Posted by: JB | April 23, 2007 5:37 PM
I thought Bubba said he didn't inhale ?
Rudy 2008..................................................................
Posted by: Don B | April 23, 2007 6:10 PM
Yeah, you're right Dave they all love us,how ignorant of me not to continue to lockstep with blind patriotism,why don't we invade Iraq Dave?, everyone likes us and they'll all be on our side....wait a minute....nevermind.
Donnyboy,
Bring on Rudy Gigoloiani!
Posted by: John E | April 23, 2007 8:34 PM
Oh, yes we all miss Bubba! He was such fun, wasn't he? He didn't let the Office of the Presidency slow him down either did he? You say Bush is Corrupt! Ha! Clinton was the MOST corrupt President I have ever seen take office and I am old! You whippersnappers have a short memory!
Yeltsin/Clinton. One was drunk on liquor and the other was drunk with power. They made quite a pair, yukking it up, didn't they? Yes, the little Bolsheviks would like to have Clinton/Clinton (the Siamese twins) back again and Yeltsin as his Vice Presidnet if he were still breathing, although I do not think that is a prerequisite for voting for people in the Democratic party, especialy in Chicago, am I right? Poor Al, left out in the global warming again! This from a man who didn't even know who Osama Bin Laden was way back when it would have counted, and even snickered at Oliver North when he mentioned his name, and yet he has a magnificent grip on the weather! Democratic Presidential/Vice Presidential material written all over Al!!!
It rather amuses me to hear the whining going on about the Europeans hating us because Bush is now in office AND if Clinton were back in office they would love us? Get a grip. They loved us to death on 09/11. All of THAT was planned on Clinton's watch, probably while he was chasing Monica, or some other skirt around the Oval Office. That really sickens me. A place where many historical and important Presidential orders were signed in great solemnity and Clinton is chasing a trollop around his desk with a cigar like Groucho Marx. Yet, there are people who long for those days. Go figure. I guess there is no standard for some, or the standard has been brought so low that they do not recognize it any longer when the bar has been lifted. Sounds like the Democrats have become infected with Soap Opera Syndrome and believe everyone lives their lives such as this. Personally, I became really tired of Clinton after the first quarter of his first term. I think he missed his calling. I believe Slick Willy could have belonged to the Million Dollar Club as a Car Salesman for any of a number of fine dealerships could have actually had his pick.
THIS Obama statement is the stuff that fairy tales are made of...Eutopia is right around the corner with Obama? HaHEEEHHEEEEHAHAHA. Wow! I am amazed, but then again, I am easily amused. Here we go again!!!!!!
Posted by: Daylo | April 23, 2007 11:23 PM
Not calling you ignorant, John E., just wondering where you got your information.
I've been to Europe six times in the last thirteen months, and if they hated me for being an American, they sure did hide it well.
What are your experiences?
Don't believe everything you read at MoveOn.org and TheDailyKos.
Posted by: Dave Brann | April 24, 2007 8:08 AM
I was in France in 2000 - and I was treated very well as an American. It's usual there that people say that they love the American people, but they hate our so-called President and Vice-President.
And by the way Daylo, they may have been planning 9/11 on Clinton's watch, but it was carried out on Bush's watch. And Bush was the one that got the warning a month before and ignored it, not Clinton.
Posted by: BobinATL | April 24, 2007 10:21 AM
I for one have missed Boris for the past few years and I mourn his passing. This man might have been a Russian by birth, but his personality was purely American. Remember the time he hula-hooped on the campaign trail in 1996? I remember thinking to myself, "wow, Democracy really is making it to Russia, their politicians are acting like idiots just like ours." Then I read he'd stopped taking his heart medication and went on a two-week drinking bender to win that election. That's impressive. I salute your outsized personality Mr. Yeltsin. Bush, Clinton, who cares? These guys were all pikers compared to you. I'll drink a vodka shot for you tonight.
Posted by: Jeff | April 24, 2007 10:30 AM