Saddam Hussein was well-liked in the US during the early 80s, and was even given the key to the city of Detroit!

Former Iraqi leader and American enemy Saddam Hussein wasn't always the bad guy in the United State's eyes. In fact, before the last twenty to thirty years, he was a welcome sight in many American cities—especially Detroit, where he received the key to the city!

In 1980, Saddam Hussein donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to a local Detroit church, Chaldean Sacred Heart. He had recently become Iraq's president and was in bit of a tiff with Iran that would last until 1988, with which the United States happily helped Hussein.

Hussein singled out that church because the Reverend at the time, Jacob Yasso, congratulated him on his presidency the year earlier. When asked about how he felt about Hussein after the U.S. started a coalition against him in 2003, Yasso said "He was a very kind person, very generous, very cooperative with the West. Lately, what's happened, I don't know. Money and power changed the person."

After being presented with the key to Detroit, Hussein pulled out his checkbook again, donating another $200,000 to finish off the church's debt.

(Source)