Blair wanted Bill Clinton to back his bid to run Europe
TONY Blair asked Bill Clinton to write a newspaper article supporting his ill-fated bid for the presidency of the European Council, newly released emails show.
The former prime minister wanted the former president to endorse the ‘personal qualities’ that made him the best candidate.
But Mr Clinton’s advisers warned that he would probably decline and that they did not want Mr Blair to expect too much from his friend.
The email was among 7,000 released by Hillary Clinton from her time as US secretary of state between 2009 and 2013 after a freedom of information request.
More than 50,000 emails she stored on her private computer server rather than using her official US government email account are gradually being made public. The email
‘My guess is he
will say no’
about Mr Blair’s bid for the EU presidency, dated October 29, 2009, was sent to Mrs Clinton by Sidney Blumenthal, one of her closest foreign policy advisers.
Mr Blumenthal tells her that Mr Blair’s senior adviser, Jonathan Powell, had suggested Mr Clinton ‘write an article supporting Tony Blair for EU President in Die Welt’ – a German newspaper.
He adds: ‘If so, I suggest it be wrapped in a discussion on the future of Europe, the need for Europe to be strong as a partner with US for many goals requiring a strong president: the policy imperatives, from climate change, security, social integration, etc. point to Blair.
‘Also, if done, should include description and endorsement of Blair’s personal qualities for office. Can’t be backhanded.’
Doug Band, another of Mrs Clinton’s advisers writes that Mr Blair and Mr Clinton will speak that evening, and he will brief Mr Clinton beforehand.
He added: ‘Will mention this to him but my guess is he will say no. Think we need to be care- ful in terms of expectations being created.’ Mrs Clinton agrees and says: ‘I think Bill and Tony will figure it out’. In the end, the arti- cle was not written. After much speculation, Mr Blair announced that he was not interested in the position of EU Council president and was appointed as the Middle East envoy to the so-called Quartet, comprising the European Union, the US, the United Nations and Russia.
The emails from Mrs Clinton give a fascinating insight into both American politics and Westminster during her time in office.
The latest cache has already shown that Mr Blair’s wife, Cherie, lobbied Mrs Clinton for more than a year to meet a friend from the Qatari royal family.
In a private email, David Miliband told Mrs Clinton it was ‘tough’ losing to his brother in the 2010 Labour leadership election.
Yesterday, the Mail revealed how Mr Blumenthal dismissed David Cameron as a ‘pretender’, and branded Nick Clegg a ‘Tony Blair stand-in love object’.