Clinton with Putin
Russia's then President Boris Yeltsin told Bill Clinton in 1999 that he had chosen Vladimir Putin to succeed him as the next Russian leader, documents released by the Clinton Presidential Library have revealed.
In a transcript of a phone call dated September 8, 1999, Yeltsin sought to explain to Clinton about his choice for president before the meeting of the US leader with Putin. "I am very convinced that he will be supported as a candidate in the year 2000. We are working on this," Yeltsin said.
Yeltsin also confessed that he spent a lot of time looking for the right candidate.
"I finally came across him, that is, Putin, and I explored his biography, his interests, his acquaintances and so on," he said.
Yeltsin described the then 46-year-old former spy as a "solid man who is well-versed in various matters under his wing." "At the same time, he's full and strong, very sociable," he added.
"I'm sure you'll find him as a highly qualified partner," Yeltsin said.
Clinton and then Prime Minister of Russia met behind the scenes of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Auckland, New Zealand, from September 9 to 12, 1999, where they shook hands.
In a later conversation in 1999, Clinton asked who would win the election.
"Putin, of course," predicted Yeltsin. "He will be Boris Yeltsin's successor. He is a Democrat and knows the West."
He also referred to Putin as a tough person who would remain on the path to democracy, economic development and the creation of new ties on behalf of Russia.
Putin was elected for the first time as president in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. He was barred by the constitution from competing in 2008 and took up the post of prime minister. In the same year, the constitution was amended to extend the presidential term to six years. In 2012 Putin again became president of Russia's president. After six more years in office, he won re-election last March with 76.69% of the vote.
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