Oct. 28, 2007
Sarko The American
Lesley Stahl Interviews France's New Leader
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Sarko L'Americain
"Sarko the American" is what the French are calling their new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been siding with the U.S. on policy. Lesley Stahl profiles the energetic, sometimes volatile leader.
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'Sarko The American' Walks Out
"Sarko the American" is what the French are calling their new president, Nicolas Sarkozy, who has been siding with the U.S. on policy. Lesley Stahl profiles the energetic and sometimes volatile leader, as you will see in this clip.
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy, center. (CBS)
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French President Sarkozy leaves his interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes when she asks him about his wife, Cecilia, with whom he was going through a divorce at the time. The interview, conducted at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Oct. 5, was broadcast Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, on CBS. (CBS)
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Fast Facts
France
Learn about the people, economy and history.
The son of an immigrant from Hungary, Sarkozy is a real departure from past French presidents: he's prone to flashes of quick temper, and as of last week, he's divorced. As correspondent Lesley Stahl found out, he's young, high energy, and thoroughly intriguing.
When Sarkozy became president in May at age 52, he waved goodbye to the old political order and started his own. The inauguration was a dazzling beginning, after a tough election in which Sarkozy asked the French people for a mandate for radical change. And he got it.
Sarkozy showed off his family, happy with comparisons to the Kennedys: his glamorous wife Cecilia, a former model, her two daughters, his two sons from previous marriages, and their own 10-year-old, Louis. Sarkozy's affection for his wife was evident.
The five months since then have been a whirlwind of made-for-TV appearances: fiery speeches, a drop-in at a mosque, and meetings with a parade of world leaders. Sarkozy is so omnipresent, his countrymen have started calling him "super Sarko," the "energizer president." His style is something the French aren’t used to: plunging into crowds and glad-handing.
When Stahl first met him for a quick, impromptu conversation on his presidential airplane, he was in a playful mood, grabbing her notes.
"Égalité," he joked.
Which he said would put himself and Stahl on an equal footing. But he refused to wear a microphone, which made the audio difficult.
"They call you 'Sarko the American.' Why?" Stahl asked.
"‘Cause I love America. I want to be friend of America," the president replied.
"But the name?" she asked.
"I am proud of this nickname. J’aime musique Américaine," Sarkozy explained, saying he likes U.S. music.
"Elvis Presley of course," he said.
"This story will introduce you to the American people. What do you most want them to know about you?" Stahl asked.
"I want the Americans to know that they can count on us," Sarkozy explained. "But, at the same time, we want to be free to disagree."
U.S.-French relations have been sour for decades, but in 2003 disagreement over the war in Iraq plunged them to a new low when then-President Jacques Chirac openly opposed the Bush administration. In the U.S., all things French were denigrated: their cars were smashed, their wine was dumped and their fries renamed "Freedom Fries."
"It became very heated, unpleasant at times," remembers Jean David Lévitte, France's ambassador to Washington at the time.
Now Sarkozy’s national security adviser, Lévitte told 60 Minutes improving U.S. relations is a top Sarkozy priority.
"He even mentioned it in his acceptance speech the night he was elected president. Why did he go that far as to mention how much he likes America on that occasion?" Stahl asked.
"Well, because he thinks it’s important. He thinks that in his campaign he had to say to the French people, 'Beware, if you elect me, I will implement this program.' And part of the program is to rebuild strong, good, friendly relations with the U.S. And I think he's succeeding magnificently," Lévitte explained.
To underscore his message, Sarkozy went so far as to spend his first vacation as president of France on a lake in New Hampshire with his family. The Bushes, nearby in Kennebunkport, invited them over for hot dogs, hamburgers and a little Franco-American bonding. But Sarkozy's personal life and his own temperament began to intrude. His wife Cecilia created an embarrassing situation when she snubbed the Bushes by pulling out of the event at the last minute.
Produced By Harry Radliffe and Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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See all 383 CommentsHow proud you must be to have offended the most pro-American President in years of our nation''s oldest ally. Ah but at your important question in. What journalism!
You did remember that France is our nation''s oldest ally?
Lesley Stahl can now put herself up there with President George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld as a champion of American diplomacy in Europe.
I think that if Ms. Stahl is so offended by Europeans (this is not the first story to reveal such an attitude), maybe her editors should consider having her report on other parts of the world.
Who cares. I believe unless their personal life effects my choices in life,it''s none of our business.
J. White,
minding my own business in St. Clair Mo.
It seems that Ms. Stahl was more interested in his personal life than what his goals are for France. I would love to have heard more on his social reform and how the average citizen of France feels about what he wants to do for their country.
It seemed to me that he knew what to expect from this particular interview, just by his comments about not wanting to do it, due to an already full and important schedule. BUT, with true style, he decided the interview was over when the questions obviously were going nowhere, and left without compromising his integrity. He should have punched her in the mouth, but his support of "everything American" doesn''t extend to our increasingly brash and aggressive nature...
The questions regarding his divorce were completely uncalled for, as well. This is supposed to be a respectable and informative program - not gossipy trash news. President Sarkozy really put Ms. Stahl in her place by handling himself with dignity. If you notice, he only decided to leave after she kept pressuring him to talk about his wife.
Inappropriate questions regarding his personal affairs (divorce is very difficult), airing his agitation with his assistant (instead of acknowledging cultural differences), and then alluding to his responses/actions as being a representation of bad character is IRRESPONSIBLE. Maybe he does have some controversial ideas/methods for his own country, but this man HAD a desire to mend the relationship between our countries. Hopefully he doesn''t judge the rest of us by this rude, in-your-face, "America has a right to know" type of interview. Learn some courtesy and stop acting as though our social customs/culture is the only way.
There were and are so many interesting questions to ask the newest leader of France and if this is the best Stahl could come up it may be time for her to move over to Fox.
What did you hope to accomplish by putting the French president on the spot with the personal questions? How were they important to Franco-American relations or, for that matter, to anything? You might see if there is an opening at The National Enquirer.
John
Let us hope that journalists from both side of the Atlantic ocean will one day give "a good image" of journalism...
Let us hope that journalists from both side of the Atlantic ocean will one day give "a good image" of journalism...
Let us hope that journalists from both side of the Atlantic ocean will one day give "a good image" of journalism...
You forgot your manners.
But I guess if you are part of the paparazzi that manners do not mean anything anymore. Shame on you!
Show some courtesy. That is what makes America, America!
When she asked where his wife was, unlike the anger she suggested he possesed in her commentary, he actually did not seem mad and kept it together and was quite respectful. I don''t know if it would occur to a self-promoting, social climbing shrew like Lesly that maybe, just maybe the fact that his wife wasn''t there and that his marriage was on the rocks would be painful for him and his family, and not fodder for her grinning mug. Lesly has a knack for bringing out the worst in people (I still remember her asking Felicity Huffman an inappropirate question, and Felicity telling her she was offended... repeatedly.) Surely there is another woman out there who can maintain a sense of dignity in her interviews for both her guest and herself.
Kathryn
Sausalito, CA
on illegal immigration and its 12M illegal immigrants, America should better observe how France under Sarko is going to crackdown and regulate like never before. If France can do it so can America. Vive Sarko!
So thanks, Ms. Stahl, for making Americans look like we fit the arrogant stereotype. Especially since this is the man who is trying hard to rebuild the Franco-American divide.
Sarkozy is the president of a G8 country, one the Security Council, possessing a nuclear arsenal, with one of the world''s largest economies. Don''t interview him as if he were Britney Spears.
So thanks, Ms. Stahl, for making Americans look like we fit the arrogant stereotype. Especially since this is the man who is trying hard to rebuild the Franco-American divide.
Sarkozy is the president of a G8 country, on the UN Security Council, possessing a nuclear arsenal, with one of the world''s largest economies. Don''t interview him as if he were Britney Spears.
So thanks, Ms. Stahl, for making Americans look like we fit the arrogant stereotype. Especially since this is the man who is trying hard to rebuild the Franco-American divide.
Sarkozy is the president of a G8 country, on the UN Security Council, possessing a nuclear arsenal, with one of the world''s largest economies. Don''t interview him as if he were Britney Spears.
So thanks, Ms. Stahl, for making Americans look like we fit the arrogant stereotype. Especially since this is the man who is trying hard to rebuild the Franco-American divide.
Sarkozy is the president of a G8 country, on the UN Security Council, possessing a nuclear arsenal, with one of the world''s largest economies. Don''t interview him as if he were Britney Spears.
I have reaffirmed my interest and admiration for this man. He was elected by his country - a country where the majority vote has reflected a need for change and for President Sarkozy''s leadership. BRAVO, President Sarkozy!
So thanks, Ms. Stahl, for making Americans look like we fit the arrogant stereotype. Especially since this is the man who is trying hard to rebuild the Franco-American divide.
Sarkozy is the president of a G8 country, on the UN Security Council, possessing a nuclear arsenal, with one of the world''s largest economies. Don''t interview him as if he were Britney Spears.
You live in a house where you owe more than the house is worth, and next door is a hell trap packed with 13 illegals, their cars and vans parked all over the place and the stink of their garbage rising up through the neighborhood.
The French think they can get just a little of American capitalism, they don''t get it that these ghould like Sarkovsky don''t do anything a little, you give them a crack in the door, they come through it with all the demons of NAFTA and hell.
I''m french and i''ve always been amazed by your curiosity for people''s private life.
And i''m relieved to see how you all have react after lesley stahl interview.
We , french, have elected a president to fight for us, to built with us, and we are sad for him about his divorce but we don''t want to know more, it''s his life.
Thank you to have post all these comments, sarkozy is doing his best to re-create warm relations between our countries, shame on stahl.
It will be nice if the agendas are put aside and some real news stories are produced. This used to be what distinguished 60 minutes from the pack. Some I have heard say that there is too much female influence at CBS due to hiring Couric. I disagree. Incompetent people, regardless of gender, are what is bringing down the news. PLEASE stop asking questions that one would expect from watching entertainment tonight. Just because it worked for O Reilly-doesnt mean it works for you guys.
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