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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Sarko Uses Footstool to Measure Up to Obama

5'5" French president shorter than Napoleon

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(Newser) – At 5 feet 5 inches, Nicolas Sarkozy seems to feel a bit stature-challenged—so at the recent D-Day tribute, he used a 6-inch footstool, in addition to his elevator shoes, to hold his own against Barack Obama and Gordon Brown, the Daily Mail reports. Sarko “knew he was appearing on the same podium as far taller world leaders, and would have looked ridiculous” without it, says a French TV source.

"You'd barely have been able to see his hair bobbing up and down," the source adds, while the Mail can't resist noting that Sarkozy is even shorter than the famously diminutive Napoleon—who the paper reports was 5'6"—and that French first lady Carla Bruni, herself no slouch at 5'9", is incessantly chided for wearing flats to avoid towering over her husband.

World leaders are shown as they arrive at the Normandy American Cemetery, Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-mer in France on June 6, 2009.
World leaders are shown as they arrive at the Normandy American Cemetery, Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-mer in France on June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)
President Nicolas Sarkozy, foreground, and President Barack Obama leave following their meeting, press conference and luncheon, at the Prefecture of Caen, northwestern France, Saturday, June 6, 2009.
President Nicolas Sarkozy, foreground, and President Barack Obama leave following their meeting, press conference and luncheon, at the Prefecture of Caen, northwestern France, Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bob Edme)
Sarkozy speaks at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the D-Day landings at the grounds of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Western France, Saturday, June 6, 2009.
Sarkozy speaks at the ceremony marking the anniversary of the D-Day landings at the grounds of the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Western France, Saturday, June 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
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5 comments
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NutsInNY
Jun 10, 09 7:43 AM CDT
Seems to be a practical solution; methinks the 'Napoleon complex' element is exaggerated. The man has done alright for himself: a good job, a beautiful, apparently loving wife. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
paul123
Jun 10, 09 9:01 AM CDT
agreed. some people are tall and some are short. just a fact of life. Let it be.
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+3
plstyle
Jun 10, 09 12:29 PM CDT
Im a Tall one :)! Reply
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-1
IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Jun 10, 09 1:38 PM CDT
but I can climb trees easier :)!
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0
SPH
Jun 10, 09 3:49 PM CDT
So what the guy used a footstool....It's not like he used teleprompter or something outrageous as that..... Reply
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