Former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev had faced some embarrassing moments as he tore his pants when went to receive ex-Indian President S. Radhakrishnan during his visit to Moscow.
Brezhnev shared this with the then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, according to declassified diplomatic conversations released by the US state department Wednesday.
The date of this event is not mentioned in the conversation, but it appears to be before Brezhnev was elected the top Russian leader. “When I worked earlier in Moscow, at the Supreme Soviet, I had to meet the President of India — who was he, yes, Radhakrishnan. I put on a new dark suit, double-breasted were in fashion then and I never liked them,” Brezhnev was quoted as saying from the minutes of the meeting.
“But I had one made — it was in the summer — and we were driving from the airport in an open car with jump seats. And, you know the kind, the backs of the seats fold up and down. There was the movement of the car; we were standing; and the back of this seat was down. I sat down and tore my pants.”
“I got worried about how I was going to get out of the car at the Kremlin. I had to hold the tear in my pants when I got out. I needed two suits (laughter),” Brezhnev said.
During the conversation the Russian leader is quoted as telling Kissinger that he is not all that interested in the material side of things.
“I’ve wanted to get a winter coat made now for the third year running, but I have no time for the tailor. Two years ago, I was having a jacket made by a tailor, but there was no time for a fitting. Now, for the meeting with the (US) President I will need a new suit, but I’m not sure I’ll make it,” Brezhnev said.
Kissinger said the US President would insist on a new suit.