I watched parts of Bush and Putin talking about their meeting on The Newshour. I didn’t see it all, nor did I catch the analysis afterward because I had to go, but while in the shower it struck me that Bush repeatedly referred to Putin as “Vladimir”. Putin didn’t refer to Bush at all, as far as I know, and he certainly didn’t call him George while I was listening. It’s hard to be sure because his words are filtered through a translator.
So, my question is, is it proper protocol to refer to one’s equal, in this setting, by first name? Is the practice a sign of respect and friendliness, or a way of putting Putin in his place, or what. Did I miss a lot of the discussion?
What do you think?
Peace,
mangeorge
I take it as a friendly gesture toward Putin. After all, before Putin became a goddamn tinpot dictator riding ironically on the post-9/11 War on Terror, I read several reports that Bush and Putin were definitely close - perhaps even friends. I wish I were making this up, because it makes me cringe, but I remember reading in a few places that GW used to refer to Putin as “Pootie Poot.”
No, really.
Well that explains those sly glances.
It could have been worse; George could’ve used his favorite nickname for Putin, “Pootie-Poot.”
:eek:
Makes “noo-clear” seem like Shakespeare by comparison… 
Read the rest of the replies (all 1 of them!) first, rjung!
(Although I suppose I could very well be on rjung’s ignore list…)
IANAHOS (I am not a head of state), but from what I read in international relations not involving the US referring to one’s peers by first name is not usual, unless one wants to emphasize a specific degree of friendship, and in that case it would be widely noted if it is not reciprocated.
OTOH an easy use of first names is widely known to be an American mode of behaviour, so it’s unlikely that anyone will take it as an indication of disrepect. Personally when an American who I am working with on a technical problem addresses me by first name I cringe inwardly just a little bit but I am not offended.
One thing about Bush/Putin: Bush might have heard Mr. Putin being addressed by his (Putin’s) underlings as Vladimir Vladimirovich, i.e. by first name + father’s name, which in Russian is not a familiar mode of address unlike the use of first name only.
I watched a program on Winston Churchill later last night on PBS.
I don’t know what that has to do with this subject, except that I felt vaguely embarrassed. For someboby.