All journalists dreamed of it.
François Busnel did it.
He is the only Frenchman to have interviewed Barack Obama for the worldwide release of the first volume of his memoirs as former President of the United States, entitled "A Promised Land" ("A Promised Land", Fayard editions).
A 32-minute interview which took place in a private room of a Washington hotel and which will be broadcast in almost its entirety this Tuesday on France 2 at 8:40 pm, instead of the soap opera "Un si grand soleil".
“I don't realize yet.
Especially since we had technical problems until the last minute, ”tells us the special envoy of France Televisions, who landed in Paris this Tuesday morning before fine-tuning the editing and the translation.
Two months that Stéphane Sitbon-Gomez, director of programs and antennas of the public service, negotiated behind the scenes this exclusivity, topping the competition, in particular TF1 and the magazine "Sept à Huit", presented by Harry Roselmack.
"We had a final agreement two weeks ago," specifies François Busnel.
Since then, I have devoured his memories.
He is a writer before being a president.
I admire his ability to use words.
Whereas the memoirs of other presidents like Bill Clinton or the Bushes, written by others, were very bad.
"
François Busnel's advantage: he is bilingual.
Even better, he is a literary journalist and not a political one, as Barack Obama's American communication wished.
“We have this bond, this passion for literature,” Busnel continues.
But as soon as we talk about culture, it is no longer in the image, it radiates.
Through it, we can talk about everything, even the political questions of the moment, starting with the election of Biden, but also the racism and the division of America that began before Trump.
He is terribly clever.
And don't fear any trick questions.
"
"He has a magnetic charisma"
Were there any taboo questions?
"None," assures the French journalist.
There was a pre-interview the day before with his staff, but the only fear was the health measures.
He was not to touch the iPad on which he was shown pictures of novelist Toni Morrison.
We also had to install our microphone with gloves and stand at 2m50.
"
Arrived in the United States last week, the 51-year-old presenter worked on his file until the last moment.
Then came the long-awaited meeting with Barack Obama, Sunday afternoon: “In front of him, I had butterflies in my stomach.
And a bit of stage fright, too.
He is impressive.
He has a magnetic charisma and looks you in the eye with almost no blinking.
We feel the force of seduction, the power of conviction.
He is not in a role, but in action.
"
From this unique interview in a career, François Busnel will remember one thing above all: “His humility.
He is never arrogant.
He even says:
I may not have done everything right but I tried
.
"