Memories of The Soviet Union 1975
The Brouhaha that occurred last week between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and Ukrainian President Zelensky has brought back many memories in my life’s experiences. It has been exactly 50 years since I was selected to be an exchange journalist to the Soviet Union in November of 1975. The adventure was spread over six weeks with seven men and five women selected to travel to the USSR on a mission of understanding, transparency, détente, and cultural exchange. The war was still raging in Vietnam, and the Soviets would soon take control of Vietnam.
I was just a small town newspaper publisher, but for balance The American Council of Young Political Leaders selected me as a western journalist along with John Kolbe, political editor and columnist for The Phoenix Gazette. The most significant delegate was James Hogue, editor of The Chicago Sun-Times. The trip was sponsored and funded by the U.S. State Department and the Soviet Komsomal Youth Organization. Likewise, 12 Soviets were sent to the United States. The exchange began with a week’s orientation in Washington at the U.S. State Department. Gerald Ford was the President of The United States, and this exchange was the first, and last, ever undertaken.
The briefing at the state department was extensive, history of the Russian Empire, strong emphasis on what not to do, including not to sleep with a Russian spy or exchange U.S. currency with any of the citizens. Both proved to be good warnings. We were approached often to exchange American currency for Russian rubles, a severe crime. Throughout the trip we were always escorted by the brightest and best young communists and always a senior Russian official in attendance. Overall, we were treated royally, from beginning to end, traveling the vast Soviet Empire that stretched from Ukraine to Siberia. The trip was exhausting, and we were constantly traveling by bus, train, or plane. The journey took us to Leningrad by the “Red Arrow Express” and we flew to Siberia to see a hydroelectric project being constructed by Komsomal youth. We were the first Americans that most of these young men and women had ever encountered. They hosted a huge banquet for us, and we lived up to détentes and cultural exchange by consuming considerable amounts of vodka. It started to snow heavily in Siberia, and I wondered if I would ever make it back home. It was several thousand miles back to Moscow, a long flight to New York and back to my home, newspaper, and family in Craig. As the heavy snowflakes fell… suddenly a sleek jet streaked down, plucked us all up, and flew us back to Moscow. I would see home and my lovely wife Gerri and my four children once again.
There are so many highlights and memories of the trip but viewing the November 7 Anniversary military parade across Red Square in -20 degrees below zero was memorable. We stood on the wall, a short distance from Soviet Leader Brezhnev, witnessing a vast assortment of tanks, artillery, troops, parade by the entire day. Our interpreters supplied us with leather flasks of hot wine to stem the cold chill of the weather and the menacing parade. My thought then, and now, we don’t want a war with these people.
I believe that the war can be halted by President Trump. Billions of dollars have been sent to Ukraine and thousands of soldiers killed on both sides over a territorial dispute with Russia wanting the vast farmlands and wealth of the Ukraine back into the once powerful empire. The Russia of today is not the same as 1975, largely thanks to President Ronald Reagan. The Soviets did tear down the wall.
The ploy for a cease fire and potential peace has been launched from the fiery dispute last week in the White House. President Trump is employing his “Art of The Deal” to end this conflict. The war is a tragic mistake by Putin misjudging the love of freedom by the Ukrainian people. They want to keep their freedom and have proven that they will shed their blood to remain free and independent. No doubt they will lose some fertile farmland, but they can save their independence. It is time for diplomacy at the highest level.
It is time for peace and not a third world war. The Russian bear must be sent home and Ukraine saved from destruction by diplomacy, not bombs and bullets, courtesy of the United States.