December 31st, 1999.

Jauna was a teenager.

I was a senior in college.

For many Russians, the 90s had been a disorienting, tumultuous decade.

But for Americans, my age, progress seemed preordained.

More freedom.

This agreement is one more reminder that former adversaries can come together to find common ground.

More internet.

Internet is that massive computer network.

The one that's becoming really big now.

Gas was around a dollar a gallon.

The scariest thing out there was Y2K.

Almost everyone is preparing for the worst.

Potential Y2K computer crashes top the list.

So I barely registered the report about Boris Yelton's announcement

and his annual New Year's Eve address.

It was the kind of thing that showed up on the news in the background,

a slurring, droopy, sad-looking Russian president.

Dear Russians, there's a far cry from the heroic figure who helped bring down the Soviet Union.

Today I, the last time, I'm the last time, I'm back as president of Russia.

The man who presided over Russia's wild 90s and its messy transition to capitalism was asking for forgiveness.

And he was calling it quits.

...