LOS ANGELES ¨C 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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