Yeltsin

Twenty years ago, on December 11th, Chechens heard that Russian President Boris Yeltsin had deployed tanks against them.

But the U.S. could work with Yeltsin—though he chose a successor who would ‘repudiate his legacy.’

Yeltsin won 53.8 to 40.3 percent, a victory ensured by ample resources over his underfunded communist challenger.

We literally used to schedule calls early as possible in the day because the chances of Yeltsin being sober were better.

“I think my father would have been very unhappy with what Yeltsin decided to do,” Khrushchev said.

By sending Chernomyrdin to sort out the Balkan mess, Yeltsin killed a flock of birds with nary a stone.

They posed a threat not only to Yeltsin's authority – but also to the economic well being of Russia.