you were a great friend of francois mitterrand. >> yes. >> rose: what was the most important thing you accomplished there? >> when i was ambassador of france? >> rose: yes. >> well, things were not going that well between the french and ourselves in that period, especially the beginning of the iraq war and everything else. but... so there was a certain amount of tension. i think the... i think that i was able to fulfill the logic of being an ambassador who are is... who does things and who helps relationings between... >> rose: and you were an ambassador who who spoke french. >> which is helpful. >> rose: and your wife learned to speak french while you were there and i heard her at the embassy one night and she gave an award. >> yes. but it's hard to imagine when one comes from abroad what it can do to your psyche to look in the mirror and say "i'm an american." "i'm not only the ambassador but i'm the american ambassador." i remember going down to speak in marseilles when we were giving a medal to the memory of a young man nameder haveian frye. >> rose: what a great... yes, they made