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>> it's a good relationship where we have established the trust with each other and where i can tell him where i think he's making a mistake with what he's doing in a respectful manner. >> reporter: ambassador cornstein soon asked us to stop recording, but off camera we asked him about his recent dinner here with rudy giuliani. he would only say that the men are close personal friends, and that he hadn't even asked giuliani about the purpose of his visit here. throughout the conversation, though, cornstein seemed unfazed by criticism that has come his way. he told us simply i report to one man...

Force the u.s. accredited graduate school central european university, founded and funded by george soros, out of hungary. cau president says that while cornstein publicly vowed to help the university in its dispute, privately he quickly capitulated to orban. >> why would he be unwilling to push for an issue that's so clearly in americans interests? >> i don't understand to tell you the truth, but somehow i think mr. cornstein began to think, huh, this is a liberal institution. i'm closer to a conservative like orban than i am to the ideals of the institution, and what's disturbing about that ...

Derailing u.s./hungarian relationships. >> reporter: cornstein's office declined a cnn request for an interview citing the ambassador's busy schedule, but when by chance we bumped into him at a budapest restaurant he sat with us and let us ask a couple of questions on our cell phones. >> what do you say to people who say that you're too friendly with prime minister orban? what's your response to that? >> my response is the same as if you asked me about my relationship with my wife. we're married 50 years, and we have a good relationship, but we have our days where they're not so good, and we'l...

To the appointment of ambassador david cornstein, an 81-year-old jewelry magnet from new york city with no relevant political experience beyond a decade's old friendship with the president. >> i became a diplomat. who the hell would have figured that. i became a diplomat. >> reporter: political appointees on both sides of the aisle are often inexperienced and sometimes ineffective, but cornstein has a direct line of communication with the president. he was instrumental in arranging a white house visit for orban, despite protests from both parties. >> probably like me a little bit controversial...

He's doing in a respectful manner. >> reporter: ambassador cornstein soon asked us to stop recording, but off camera we asked him about his recent dinner here with rudy giuliani. he would only say that the men are close personal friends and that he hadn't even asked giuliani about the purpose of his visit here. throughout the conversation, though, cornstein seemed unfazed by criticism that has come his way. he told us simply, i report to one man only, and that is the president of the united states, and so far nobody has told me they don't like the results of what i'm doing. privately, though, ...