carolinaindian02 t1_j6xk1yd wrote on February 2, 2023 at 4:35 PM

Reply to comment by Gyftycf in Putin and the Presidents (2023) FRONTLINE: Vladimir Putin’s clashes with multiple American presidents as he’s tried to rebuild the Russian empire. [00:54:22] by johny4304

This. A lot of people forget that George W. Bush once called Putin "trustworthy" at the beginning of his term.

Specifically, he said:

>“I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy,” Bush said. “I was able to get a sense of his soul.”

KKing650 t1_j6zac9j wrote on February 2, 2023 at 11:05 PM

Turns out he got a "sense of his soul" as he didn't actually have one.

Gyftycf t1_j71fic8 wrote on February 3, 2023 at 11:34 AM

Putin studied Bush before they met. He knew Bush was a recent "Born Again" Christian, so Putin made up a stupid story about how a cross his grandmother gave him survived through a fire (and possibly war, but I can't remember). And Bush fell for it.

chintakoro t1_j76zog9 wrote on February 4, 2023 at 3:45 PM

where did you hear this anecdote?

my7bizzos t1_j79mz4c wrote on February 5, 2023 at 3:27 AM

In the documentary posted

chintakoro t1_j79qrtx wrote on February 5, 2023 at 4:01 AM

thanks!

Gyftycf t1_j78is1k wrote on February 4, 2023 at 10:05 PM

Julia Ioffe's interview.