Lee Kuan Yew, whom I first interviewed in 1996, was always a terrific interview, and if you ask Western journalists how many public figures they can say this of, you may be surprised at how few they name.
But I cannot think of one journalist who left Istana, Singapore's historic government house, after an interview with Lee disappointed. I even tell my university students that one clear indication of an utter lack of journalistic talent would be to conduct an interview with Singapore's first prime minister that came out ... dull.
Many public figures like to dodge tough questions but, if asked in a proper way, Lee is the reverse: He relishes the challenge. He does not want for intellectual self-confidence, he is not intimidated by the Western journalist, and he will generally say what he thinks, even if it sometimes it makes you cringe a bit.
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