Jeff Wysaski
When it comes to ruling a country with an iron fist, image is everything. To maintain their stranglehold on the public, history’s dictators prefer to be captured by the camera posed in either stoic looks of steel, passionate fervor or calm reserve. However, every once in a while the camera catches one of the world’s most feared men of power doing something that severely undercuts their street cred. Below, are ten emasculating and embarrassing photos of feared dictators and leaders:
When not busy corrupting the Russian government, Vladimir Putin likes to enjoy petting dolphins. That look on his face can only be described as “pure ecstasy.”
Here’s previous communist leader of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev, making out with fellow communist politician, Erich Honecker. (source)
…And here’s Brezhnev the morning after, checking up on Honecker to make sure he made it home safe. (source)
In this photo, Kim Jong Il reminds me less of the tyrannical “Dear Leader” of North Korea and more like a haggard old grandfather.
No man can go down on a hot dog without looking a little queer – not even Fidel Castro. (source)
Prior to becoming the leader of the Communist Party for the Soviet Union in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev (right) enjoyed the completely masculine hobby of ventriloquism. Here he is with good pal “Yakov the drunken Trotskyite.” (source)
Hugo Chavez looks like a pouty Boy Scout in this photo. I guess the parrot wasn’t enough to get him that Pirate Merit Badge he was going for.
Hua Guofeng succeeded Mao Zedong as the Communist leader of China in 1976. It wasn’t until years later that Guofeng was exposed for what he really was – a really sleepy turtle. (source)
Okay, this photo of Saddam Hussein in his underwear was first printed by British tabloid newspaper, The Sun, so it’s quite possibly Photoshopped. Regardless, it’s still pretty emasculating.
Who wears short shorts? That’s right, the most feared and despicable man of all time, Adolf Hitler.
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