scorecardWhat 25 major world leaders and dictators looked like when they were young
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What 25 major world leaders and dictators looked like when they were young

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a military service uniform in an undated photograph.

What 25 major world leaders and dictators looked like when they were young

Kim Il Sung, the former leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as a 16-year-old in 1928. He joined a communist youth organization around that time and was arrested and jailed for activities with the group.

Kim Il Sung, the former leader of the Democratic People

Source: Britannica

An undated photo of Saudi Arabia's King Salman. He was first made deputy governor of Riyadh in 1954, at about age 19.

An undated photo of Saudi Arabia

Source: Britannica

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with fellow Christian Democrat Lothar de Maiziere in 1990.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel with fellow Christian Democrat Lothar de Maiziere in 1990.

Russian President Vladimir Putin as a young child in Russia in the 1950s.

Russian President Vladimir Putin as a young child in Russia in the 1950s.

Eight-year-old Justin Trudeau, future prime minister of Canada, feeds pigeons with his father, then prime minister Pierre Trudeau, in Venice in 1980.

Eight-year-old Justin Trudeau, future prime minister of Canada, feeds pigeons with his father, then prime minister Pierre Trudeau, in Venice in 1980.

Joseph Stalin, who later became the leader of the USSR, in 1902, a few years after he dropped out from seminary school.

Joseph Stalin, who later became the leader of the USSR, in 1902, a few years after he dropped out from seminary school.

Future Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi appeared on Italy's Ruota della Fortuna (Wheel of Fortune) in the early 1990s at age 19. He won the equivalent of tens of thousands of euros.

Future Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi appeared on Italy

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro's yearbook photo from 1945. The caption reads: "Distinguished student and a fine athlete. Very popular. Will study law and we have no doubt he will have a brilliant future."

Former Cuban President Fidel Castro

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a child, left, with his family in 1956. His father, Shintaro Abe, was foreign minister between 1982 and 1986.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as a child, left, with his family in 1956. His father, Shintaro Abe, was foreign minister between 1982 and 1986.

A mugshot of Benito Mussolini, who later became the leader of the Italian Fascists, after his arrest by Swiss police in 1903.

A mugshot of Benito Mussolini, who later became the leader of the Italian Fascists, after his arrest by Swiss police in 1903.

Aung San Suu Kyi, state counsellor of Myanmar, as a 6-year-old in 1951. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 but has since been criticized by rights groups over her failure to speak up for minority groups.

Aung San Suu Kyi, state counsellor of Myanmar, as a 6-year-old in 1951. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 but has since been criticized by rights groups over her failure to speak up for minority groups.

Source: BBC

Dictator Adolf Hitler as a baby.

Dictator Adolf Hitler as a baby.

Queen Elizabeth II, right, practices bandaging with her sister, Margaret, who both joined the 1st Buckingham Palace Company of Girl Guides, in 1943. The two stripes on her uniform indicate that she's patrol leader.

Queen Elizabeth II, right, practices bandaging with her sister, Margaret, who both joined the 1st Buckingham Palace Company of Girl Guides, in 1943. The two stripes on her uniform indicate that she

Pope Francis — back when he was still Jorge Mario Bergoglio — as a student, circa 1948-49.

Pope Francis — back when he was still Jorge Mario Bergoglio — as a student, circa 1948-49.

Former US President Bill Clinton on a pony near his childhood home in Arkansas.

Former US President Bill Clinton on a pony near his childhood home in Arkansas.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, then president of the Oxford Union, speaks with Melina Mercouri, Greek minister for culture, in 1986.

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, then president of the Oxford Union, speaks with Melina Mercouri, Greek minister for culture, in 1986.

Brazil's Dilma Rousseff, center, in an undated photo with her family. The Senate of Brazil suspended her powers and duties for up to six months in May 2016.

Brazil

Then Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez, center, walking with military intelligence officers after being arrested for trying to overthrow Venezuela's government in a failed coup in 1992. He was elected president several years later.

Then Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez, center, walking with military intelligence officers after being arrested for trying to overthrow Venezuela

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1986, when he was the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in 1986, when he was the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.

US President Barack Obama with his grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Dunham, in New York in the 1980s.

US President Barack Obama with his grandparents, Stanley Armour Dunham and Madelyn Dunham, in New York in the 1980s.

Former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a bow and arrow, circa 1890.

Former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a bow and arrow, circa 1890.

Former US President George W. Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973.

Former US President George W. Bush served in the Texas Air National Guard from 1968 to 1973.

Nicolae Ceausescu, the former head of Romania's Communist Party, as a 16-year-old, in 1934.

Nicolae Ceausescu, the former head of Romania

Mahatma Gandhi, right, with his brother Laxmidas in 1886.

Mahatma Gandhi, right, with his brother Laxmidas in 1886.

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