"Midnight Diaries focuses on Yeltsin's second term as president. During the heated 1996 election campaign, Yeltsin suffered a severe heart attack and his popularity plummeted. He won the race, but the Communist Duma soon brought impeachment proceedings against him. Still, Yeltsin clung to power. Following his keen political instinct, he repeatedly swapped prime ministers and restructured his presidential staff.

He brought his daughter, Tanya, into the administration and recruited a young team of brilliant minds to introduce much-needed economic reforms to the country. The transition to a market economy was difficult. As the economy soured, the vengeful Duma struck again" "And again, Yeltsin out-maneuvered his political rivals by cleverly juggling his staff. On December 31, 1999, Yeltsin revealed his final surprise: He stepped down from office and slipped his successor, Vladimir Putin, into place.".

"We learn his frank opinions of Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, Helmut Kohl, and other world leaders. We witness his moments of triumph and disappointment, joy and regret."--BOOK JACKET.