Chávez in His Own Words: The 2002 "60 Minutes" Interview

In a 2002 interview with CBS News, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez discussed his turbulent rule. He spoke with "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft about his rise, a brief coup that removed him, and his rapid return to power. Kroft described Chávez as "a larger than life figure." The reporter noted the president's friendly ties with leaders like Cuba's Fidel Castro, Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, and Iraq's Saddam Hussein. Chávez's relationship with the United States was far more strained. The outspoken leader served as Venezuela's president from 1999 until his death in 2013. The 2002 interview captured a key moment in his controversial and consequential career.