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How World Leaders Call Each Other

by Terrence O'Brien on November 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM



Some seemed to think it was embarrassing when Sarah Palin was fooled into believing that a Canadian radio shock jock was French president Nicolas Sarkozy shortly before election day. Many people (including some commenters on this site) defended Palin, asking how she could have known (ignoring the obvious clues such as the request to hunt wolves from a helicopter).

Do you ever wonder how someone like the President gets in touch with other world leaders? Let's say the President of the United States wants to speak to Nicolas Sarkozy. The normal procedure involves aides or White House operators calling assistants or operators for Sarkozy. An appointment for the leaders to speak is established. Aides to Sarkozy will call back the White House to confirm the appointment, and then patch the leaders through to each other at the appropriate time. It's not exactly speed-dial.


While clearly Palin and her handlers didn't take the necessary precautions to ensure the communication from the French president was legit, they're not alone in being taken in by prank callers. Fidel Castro, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, former French president Jacques Chirac, and even our own president Bush have all been taken in by prank callers.

Just goes to show that even world leaders are not immune to the childish antics of your local morning Zoo Crew. [From: Slate]

Tags: communication, politics, prank, prank call, PrankCall, pranks, security

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