The very term ‘world leader’ brings forth reveries of an authoritative person claiming expertise in political maneuvering and finespun diplomacy. And while most of our modern-day world leaders do make it a point to portray such canny inclinations through their cultivated body language, behavior and PR, it is often forgotten they too were at one point simply ‘young fellows’ with carefree notions and innocuous bearings. To that end, here are some historic ‘blast from the past’ images that aptly portray the youthful side of famous world leaders (from both 20th and 21st century), irrespective of their later intimidating or benevolent nature.
Mahatma Gandhi photographed in 1887.
Joseph Stalin in 1902.
Richard Nixon during the 1930s.
John F. Kennedy at the age of 10, in 1927.
Kim Jong-il, at the age of 4, with his father Kim Il-sung and mother Kim Jong-suk in 1945.
Princess Elizabeth II of England at the age of 18, in 1945.
Pope Francis as a boy.
Fidel Castro in 1955.
Shinzo Abe, Japan’s Prime Minister at the age of 2 (bottom left), pictured with his family in 1956.
Nelson Mandela in 1961.
Saddam Hussein as a young man.
Bill Clinton meeting President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
George Bush at Yale University sometime between 1964 to 1968.
A trimmer Hugo Chavez as an army officer.
Vladimir Putin in 1966.
Donald Trump in 1964.
The young Barack Obama smoking a joint.
Angela Merkel in 1973
Current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1972, shaking hands with then President Zalman Shazar.
Via: MyModernMet / VintageEveryday
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