blf4c,AP ICAu NOTE

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60K6AC1

V -

blf4c,AP ICAu NOTE

CONFIDENTIAL

DEPART MENT

RESEARCH

NOTE

No.12/85

M S GORBACHEV: A

August

BIOGRAPHICAL

1985

NOTE

M B Nicholson Soviet Section

Research CONFIDENTIAL

Department

T

CONFIDENTIAL

M

S GORBACHEV

- A BIOGRAPHICAL

NOTE

(AUGUST

1985)

Summary

I. Earl

ears;

1931-1949

Gorbachev was born in 1931 into a peasant family in the agricultural area of Stavropol (North aucasus), - whfch was occupied by the Germans between August 1942 and January 1943. After working as an assistant to a combine har ester operator`-Gorbachev entered Moscow University (paragraphs 1 to 4).

II. Moscow

Universit

, 1950-1955

Gorbachev studied law , but Moscow University was of decisive importance in his political career -.joined the Party in 1952 and was probably secretary of the University 's Komsomol (the Party's youth wing ) organisation (paragr phs- 5 o =

III.

Komsomol

Work

in Stavro

ol, 1956-1962

Immediately after university Gorbachev started Komsomol and Party official in his home region

IV. Part

Work

in Stavro

ol,

his career (paragraph

as a 7).

1962-1970

Gorbachev's first years as a Party official coincided with Khrushchev's last. He benefited from Khrushchev's numerous reorganisation`s of the Party apparatus, but also took a hand in returning the local Party organisation to its traditional form under Brezhnev (paragraph 8). He got an agricultural degree by correspondence (paragraph 9). He rose steadily in the Stavropol Party organisation, probably helped by the promotion to the centre of his former boss, Kulakov, and by the decline under Brezhnev of his immediate superior in the Stavropol regional party organisation (paragraphs 10 to 12).

V.

First

Secretar

of

Stavro

of

Kraikom,

1970-1978

On election as First Secretary of the Stavropol Kraikom in 1970, Gorbachev became one of the regional Party Secretaries who are the backbone of the Party's organisation throughout the country (paragraph 13). Local_y he supported schemes to improve incentives for farm workers and greater mechanisation of the harvesting process. Nationally, he became a Deputy to the Supreme Soviet and a member of the Party's Central Co mmittee. As such he began to lead Party delegations abroad (paragraphs 14 to 15).

CONFIDENTIAL

I CONFIDENTIAL

VI. To Moscow

Co mmittee

as Central

Secretar

, 1978

Gorbachev's crucial promotion to Party Secretary for Agriculture in l978 probably came about through a mixture of luck (the sudden death of Kulakov), connections with the leadership (Suslov's interest in the region, and its resorts, frequented by the leadership) and ability (noted by Brezhnev). (Paragraphs 16 to 17.)

VII. Rise

in the leadershi

under

Brezhnev

and Andro

ov, 1978-1984

At 47, Gorbachev was not exceptionally young to be made a Party Secretary, but his rise to full membership of the Politburo by 1980 to ----' was exceptionall rapid and was probably due in particular Brezhnev s approval (paragraphs 18 to 19). Gorbachev's personal contribution to agricultural policies is hard to determine (paragraph 20). He rose steadily up the ranks of the Party Secretaries until he stood third after Andropov and Chernenko. With both sick in 1983, much of the Furden of running Party affairs must have fallen on Gorbachev (paragraphs 21 to 22). In May 1983 he visited the West for the first time as a representative of the Soviet State (paragraph 24).

VIII.

Under

Chernenko

as General

Secretar

, 1984-March

1985

Gorbachev is unlikely to have challenged Chernenko for the leadership when Andropov died in February 1984. He retained the confidence of the rest of the leadership, as was shown by the exceptional breadth of his responsibilities as a Party Secretary (paragraphs 25 to 26). As Chernenko's health deteriorated the likelihood of Gorbachev succeeding him increased, though Gorbachev was not dictating policy (paragraphs 27 to 28). He visited the UK in De mber ec

1984

IX As General

(paragraph

Secretar

29).

March

1985

-

Gorbachev's election was probably a foregone conclusion (paragraph 30). As General Secretary he has made an immediate imn act through his style (paragraph 32), the consolidation of his power (paragraphs 33 to 35), and the urgency of his call for a better economic performance (paragraph 36). He has stressed that this will also determine the effectiveness of Soviet foreign policy (paragraph 37). X.

Family

Gorbachev's wife family (paragraphs XI

is an important _- -- influence; ' 38 to 39).

they

live as an extended -

Conclusions

A wide

range

of

observers

agree

that

Gorbachev

is

unusually

talented

(paragraph 40). As the first Politburo member not old enough to have fought in the War or to have held political office under Stalin, and the first in recent history to have had a university CONFIDENTIAL

CONFIDENTIAL

education, Gorbachev belongs to a new generation. The generational gap should not be exaggerated: Gorbachev has made his entire career in the Party apparatus, whose cautious and secretive methods have not been relaxed. But he reached political maturity under Brezhnev, when the Party came to recognise the complexity of the issues it was dealing with, sought specialist advice and strove for solutions that satisfied all interests. Gorbachev thrived in this atmosphere (paragraph 41). As General Secretary he continues to work through the system, trying through his own energy, youth and ability to have others put into practice principles to which they have long been paying lip service (paragraph 42).

Annex A 11 March

Gromyko's speech 1985 recommending

Annex

Gorbachev's

B

to the Central Gorbachev as

aides.

CONFIDENTIAL

Committee Plenum General Secretary.

of

CONFIDENTIAL

M S GORBACHEV

I Earl 1.

- A BIOGRAPHICAL

ears;

Mikhail

March

district

of Stavropol rearing

Caucasus. region,

2.

bordering

peasants

affected

was

1943.

occupied,

and living

contact

with

Socialist wounded paternal

Communist farms.

who

the effects between

of the

which

and Kazakhstan.

of the war;

his home

August

and

Soviet

1942

historian

Gorbachev's

might

Roy

background

but the area

who

to Medvedev,

had been

in

was not heavily

have

had little

or

home

seems

and a pioneer

been

of

up in his

is not clear).

a significant

was an ardent

Hero

was brought

role

in the organisation

His grandmother

the title

army and was fatally

Gorbachev

(his mother's

to have

was a well-regarded

awarded

in the Soviet

(Czechoslovakia).

grandparents'

grandfather,

of the

one of its

of 1932-1934,

Gorbachev

according

He fought

in Kogice

west

as the Ukraine

about

in the North

troops.

operator

Labour.

(RSFSR)

region.

to the dissident

in a village

on 2

growing

collectivisation

famine

felt

grain

just before

was not evacuated,

father,

combine-harvester

have

enquiries

German

Gorbachev's

but

by the Germans

According

who has made

Republic

the forcible

as well

family

in the Krasnogvardeisky

Rostov

the great

occupied

into a peasant

is in the north

achieved,

will

Gorbachev

3.

been

Gorbachev

in a region

place

after

Caucasus

Stavropol,

no

birth

born

the north

Medvedev,

1985)

is an important

of the Russian

consequences,

As a child

This

the neighbouring

had largely

immediate

January

area

was born

of Privolnoe

region.

Gorbachev's

Gorbachev

was

Gorbachev

in the village

and sheep

(AUGUST

1931-1949

Sergeevich

1931

NOTE

influence,

of the first

believer

His was a

collective

and had him

baptised.

4.

Gorbachev's

work

in

1946

at

Motor-tractor

1930 farms have

official the

Station

to 1958 served and also combined

Nonetheless

age

biographies of

15

(these

as

this work

were

state

run

distinction

CONFIDENTIAL

in a

enterprises

pools

control).

his studies

he had the unusual

of his starting

servicer

machinery

of political

with

much

a machine

as agricultural

as centres

make

which

for collective

Gorbachev

at secondary of being

from

seems

to

school. awarded

the Red

CONFIDENTIAL

Banner

of Labour

Czechoslovak

(ORBL),

Party

Secretary

who was a personal

II Moscow 5.

friend

Universit

Gorbachev

decisive

who rose

of Gorbachev's

till

1955,

His elevation

from

seat of learning

importance

education

system

after

the war.

from 1949

to his death

may also

replace

Jewish

ability

must

Gorbachev's

6.

have

was

course

Lieutenant

point

joining according

Party.

the Moscow leading

III

Komsomol

7.

It

rather

was

Komsomol

in

evidently

subsequent his home

which

the Department Co mmittee

in law his

From

1955

of Stavropol. of Agitation

(Kraikom)

probablyhave

of

of to

own academic

service

to Medvedev

career. wing)

organiser

the

scholar,

be

Party

he was made

University No date

was

who was

the

but

in the Law

of his group

to 1955

a

for his

has been given,

and then of

the Co mmunist

Gorbachev

1954

through

done a reserve

Moscow

youth

from

ol,

Gorbachev's

determined

career. region

to

Stavro

than his degree

Mlynar),

Komsomol

officials

Work

from military

(Lev Yudovich,

to one Western

Komsomol

the Jew's

has ascribed

at the age of 21, he joined

University

higher

been a requirement

Mlynaf

political

emigre

became

According

against

Gorbachev's

on graduation.

(the Party's

In 1952,

have

of the Soviet

have

According

of Gorbachev's

he soon

his course.

he will

concurrently.

to a Soviet

Faculty)

exempted

though

the Komsomol

may

of

A high proportion

Russians.

a part.

was clearly

campaign

be relevant. may

of that course

Gorbachev

Stalin's

in 1950

to his ORBL.

in the reserve

starting

and

to the most

and expansion

with

evidently

at university,

officer's

Dubcek

University).

length

Union

career.

and there

played

advancement

Gorbachev

being

Jewish

law students

also

under

University

the provinces

the reconstitution

were

of Moscow

the standard

for his later

from

lawyers

(the former

at Moscow

in the Soviet

benefited

Soviet

Mlynar

to prominence

the Law Faculty

(aged 19) and studied

prestigious

to Zdenek

, 1950-1955

entered

at the time.

according

was secretary

(it is normal

of

for

members).

1956-1962 Komsomol

(although next

and

Party

"excellent",

steps,

and

indeed

credentials,

according his

to 1962 he was a Komsomol He was successively

and Propaganda Komsomol

whole

official

Deputy

of the Stavropol

(1955-56),

First

to

Head

in of

Regional

Secretary

of

CONFIDENTIAL

the Stavropol First

Co mmittee

Town

Secretary

of the Stavropol

In 1961,

as a Komsomol

delegate

to the 22nd Party

was decided

IV.

to remove

Part

8.

Work

The start

with

21 years

reorganisation Organiser

Administration.

agriculture. Gorbachev

was advanced

Co mmittee

will

party

(Kraikom).

in Stavropol have

dealt

the region.

post

only

could

instigation

and

thus

Stavropol

at

the

1967 its

as

first

have

the

been

these

Stavropol an

Gorbachev's

years

to

Gorbachev

further

economist. their

education.

qualification

1962,

of Head of Party Kraikom,

Gorbachev

and appointments

for such approval,

a sensitive if not at the F D Kulakov

job until

implementing

in

September the

decision

in

structure.

doing

The

post

of the Kraikom,

party

Institute,

in December

In this post

in this

2

and one for

the agricultural

matters

of

now

Regional

leadership's

was

industrial

were

sensitive

the full

charge

a unitary

Agricultural

further

Kolkhoz/Sovkhoz

there

nomination

post-Khrushchev

agricultural

officials

in

This

as Party

for industry

important.)

He remained

farms.

into separate

one

secretary

covered

saw another

of the Stavropol

with

reorganised

of

post,

that

organisational

its

to have worked

which

of the reorganisation,

been made

1964 to restore

During

This meant

Gorbachev's

10 below).

region

November

9.

have

will

same year

with

and state

Party

of the Party

Organs

of the then

(see paragraph 1966

collective

organisations,

party

it

coincided

Khrushchev

bodies

his first

was the more

throughout

seem

the creation

(This was presumably

with

when

of office,

of 1962

to the politically

of Party

occasion,

Territorial-Production

In the course

the Department

which

Gorbachev

structures.

regional

was a voting

official

which

Administrations",

the splitting

and agricultural

tenure

with

The end of that

reorganisation:

(1958-62).

the Mausoleum.

as a Party

In the spring

of the Stavropol

Stavropol

career

and administered

gave

and then

1962-1970

of agriculture

districts

from

reorganisations,

"Territorial-Production several

of the Komsomol

Gorbachev

of Khrushchev's

favour.

and Second

a historic

body

ol,

administrative

the administration

Kraikom

Congress,

Stalin's

in Stavro

in Gorbachev's

(1956-58),

representative,

of Gorbachev's

the last

constant

(Gorkom)

a correspondence from

Party The

- in academic

which has

he

graduated

always

purpose

terms

course

encouraged of

worth

much

in

CONFIDENTIAL

less than his degree enhance

from Moscow

his authority

University

as a Party

- will

official

have been

in a largely

to

agricultural

region.

10.

Between

1966

and 1978 Gorbachev

official.

From

Town Party

Co mmittee

Second

Secretary

and from 1970 While

1966

to 1968

greater

part

relevant

that his former

was transferred of Khrushchev

first

to Head

and then

Agriculture,

from which

appointments

in his former

11.

It is also

Secretary downward

relevant

of Stavropol trend.

Politburo

under

whom

he may already

12.

The timing

earmarked

been

of Gorbachev's

and at the early of the elections

24th Party

Congress

to

Efremov

deprive

and full member unspoken event,

right

rapid

1970,

1971.

status

of the Central as Party

it was Gorbachev

after

leader

as

less

of the

in 1966.

by

Thus

under

to First

than 2 years

have

been

Soviet

someone

this

VP T 7 T

to

of

as Second by the

1970

and the

presumably

the

Supreme

wished Soviet

he had the

region.

status

Secretary

dictated

in June

to which

of an important

MT.' T nV

on a

to Stavropol

serving

a Deputy

below).

('r

aside

The leadership

Co mmittee,

who acquired

as First

Member

promotion

to the Supreme

his

influence

to succeed.

age of 39, may

in April of

for

a politician

status

have

Secretary approach

but was shunted

from 1968 was

in April

of the

Secretary

was L N Efremov,

Secretary

Kraikom

the fall

Department

replacement

lost his Politburo

Stavropol

a

8 above),

after

undoubtedly

had been a Candidate

Khrushchev,

as Second

1964

Co mmittee

he could

played

region.

Kraikom

and

in late

that Kulakov's

Efremov

the new leadership Gorbachev

position

(Kraikom)

Kraikom.

(see paragraph

of the Agricultural to Central

he was

it is undoubtedly

Kulakov

and promoted

1970

Co mmittee

his connections

his talent,

superior,

to Moscow

Co mmittee

Central

than

to April

Party

party

of Stavropol

of the Stavropol

to say whether

in this rise

1968

Regional

Secretary

as a local

Secretary

from August

of the Stavropol

it is impossible

steadily

he was First

(Gorkom),

to 1978 First

rose

In the

(see paragraph

15

CONFIDENTIAL

V.

First

13.

Secretar

Gorbachev

and

thus

national

who the

importance

because

in

He

are

throughout

Stavro

became

level.

secretaries

ranks

of

above

includes

within

its

national

minorities

As

the

which the

proved

"link"

specific

areas

highly

of

He

also

transport,

spare

completing

the

operation. this which the

of

full

is

also

link

Gorbachev's

system

nonetheless

met

was

the

Party's

mechanised

cultivation

decree

by

and

application. intrinsic application

not

was

As

many

so

merits,

has

led

to

its the

it also

it for

method"

with toured

allocated and

paid

by

paragraph

20

harvesting

by

their the

own farms

process

in a single

in a Pravda

article

in

district

where

for

from

with

more by

for

method

cut

across

enthusiasm.

being

It

and

Committee

wider whatever

frequently

that

evolved,

intensive

initiatives,

and

1978

was

a Central

Brezhnev

similar

it

constituency) greeted

in

advocated

reploughing

Soviet

Ipatovo

of

complete

he

year

(see

was

schemes

1976 are

the

approval

the

wider

teams

which

Gorbachev

In

round

recommended

message

with

small

requirement

and

in

- the

region.

everywhere

a personal

local

own

and

Supreme

and

aside

agricultural

etc,

after

set

various

columns

(named

because

area

acknowledged

method

a Krai

agricultural

"Ipatovo

harvesting

high

Oblast.

Politburo

canteens

ranks As

regions

to cultivate

harvesting

Stavropol

Republic

(whereby

the

local

organisation

(oblasts)

the

in his

won

parts,

of

at

Party

potential.

behind

farming

figure

regional

Party's

Russian

a major

weight

Gorbachev

Ipatovo

the

supported

mechanised

the

of

Autonomous

now

the

regions

one

farmland

has

of

region

other

successful

which

below).

own

borders

of

1970-1978 political

agricultural

most

his

system

results),

of

its

boss

to put

had

backbone

within

Party

a position

one

His

Karachaevo-Cherkesskaya

14.

now

country. of

Kraikom,

a significant

was

the

status

of

its

thoughtless somewhat

discredited.

15.

Gorbachev's

in June

1970

Supreme

Soviet.

Environmental

as

on

a Deputy In

1970

Protection

Commission. membership

debut

More of

the

the

national

to

the

Council

he

was

also

Commission

importantly, Central

stage of

in

in April

f/

IWTT

T T

of

L,LTm

the

elected and

Committee

came

T

A T

his

election

of

the

USSR

Union

a member 1974

1971 the

with

he

CPSU

of was at

of

its

its

Youth

elected the

24th

Affairs to

full

Party

CONFIDENTIAL

Congress.

This

did not

decision-making Co mmittee

role

members),

to study

in November

the atmosphere

following

in 1972,

and his wife

VI.

To Moscow

16.

In July

died

suddenly,

as

aged

60.

Gorbachev

(then

17.

before:

reform,

full Central

to the GDR

a tourist

in 1966

assignment

in

But as a member

of

delegations:

and France

gave

Party

a difficult

to lead Party

It also

and to Czechoslovakia

invasion.

Co mmittee

Central

At the next

place

as a leading

work,

made

240 other

in the Party.

abroad

in 1975

central

in 1976.

to

(Gorbachev

trip to Italy

and France

'70s.)

funeral.

disclosed,

he began

1978 Kulakov,

of the CPSU.

abroad

youth

apparently

by car in the early

were

the Soviet

the FRG

also

(there

of economic

to discuss

Co mmittee

the Central Brussels

to travel

management

1969

any significant

him status

He had travelled

Party

confer

on Gorbachev but gave

him the opportunity representative.

in itself

47)

by then a Full Gorbachev

routine

was

(Though,

it was clear

Secretar

Plenum

of the Politburo,

on 28 November

a Secretary

as is customary, that

Member

was one of the speakers

Party

elected

, 1978

of

the

at his 1978 Co mmittee

Central

his reponsibilities

he was to supervise

were

agriculture

not

in

of Kulakov.)

There

was a large

promotion.

Had Kulakov

in Stavropol Party

until

officials

Gorbachev dictated

could

promotion

repaired.

Krai

to which Gorbachev

and visited

them

Suslov,

who

had

the

and

whose

war

his representing

been

with

members

the Politburo

interest

in

movement

the

directly

have

and been but the

to his advantage

of Kislovodsk

seen

of

was probably

will

(Andropov to their

Stavropol was

anniversary

in

and regularly) comforts

have had the backing

Stavropol

at the 100th

of

in the centre,

spas

on

The choice

had an unusual

have

of

stayed

the top leadership

may also

secretary

continuing

since

of the leadership

Gorbachev

have

agriculture

Kulakov,

the famous

undoubtedly

first

well

connections

also

in this crucial

sluggish.

contributed

Gorbachev

includes

there.

death,

and more

chief,

not have

will

might

supervising

his former

to Secretary.

Pyatigorsk,

more

Gorbachev's

obviously

that Stavropol

Gorbachev

by his connections

by having

for Gorbachev

Brezhnev's

Secretary

by his ability.

enhanced latter

at least

as Party

of luck

lived,

was becoming

partly

partly

element

Kraikom

of

during

signalled

by

celebrations

CONFIDENTIAL

of the town of Stavropol have

enjoyed

based

Brezhnev's

to a large

ability,

since

Brezhnev warmth

who

were

could

have

been

in one of the main

Brezhnev

hoped

that

VII. 18.

Rise At

qualities

Co mmittee

Brezhnev

showed

an award

in December

under

years

44.

Secretary.

Katushev

becoming 1980.

where

in the Party

became

and

spent

to be elected

made

Gorbachev,

one of the select

group

9

as a junior of the

later

rose

a

one year

after

in October

of Party

top decision-making

of the power

after

He was made

a year

in

in 1976

by contrast,

1979,

a

a Secretary

membership

and a full member

thus at the apex

ov, 1978-1984

10 years

in November

of the Party's

his

on the Secretariat

hierarchy.

of the Politburo

who are also members Politburo,

he remains.

1978 for

of Central

48 and Ryabov

to candidate

a Secretary,

He thus

aged

promoted

quickly

Member

in 1972

been

being

in 1982,

Candidate

had

Dolgikh

Politburo

to

Stavropol".

display

young

3, while

before

closer particular

and Andro

after

Secretary

exceptionally

Brezhnev

lost his place

anyone

and selflessness".

was not exceptionally

But Katushev

and Ryabov

post

will

of initiative

1968 at the age of 41, Dolgikh aged

Secretaries

in the country,

Sergeevich

in the leadershi

47, Gorbachev

Central

chosen.

granaries

Mikhail

to choose

of agricultural

"in his new, responsible

Secretary,

was probably

Party

with

to

of Gorbachev's

interest post

seems

regional

Gorbachev

"working

characteristic

assessment

in Brezhnev's

other

Gorbachev

and this confidence

for the difficult

when presenting

Co mmittee

Finally,

on Brezhnev's

it was not

There

1978.

confidence,

extent

less than competent Secretary.

in May

structure

Secretaries body,

the

of the Soviet

Union.

19.

Gorbachev's

initial

of his responsibilities acceptability

and must

to the rest

Brezhnev's

desire

death

a competent

with

rise was not accompanied

to fill

of the Politburo the gap

lieutenant

agricultural

sphere.

This

commendation

of Gorbachev

be attributed

much when

/'

/\krc

to his general

and in particular

in the Politburo overseeing

the

can be deduced presenting

TTLrk1my

TT

by any broadening

him

to

left by Kulakov's ever

difficult

from Brezhnev's in March

1981

with

the

CONFIDENTIAL

Order

of Lenin

which

he had

(routinely)

been

awarded

on his 50th

birthday:

"This

is an energetic

the sector

and go-ahead

of the Party's

Politburo

does

indeed

for effective

management

demand

solutions. complex

20.

and effect

agricultural period

policy

have

has been

of other part

left

leaders.

latter

has strongly

met with peasant

that while

and

cogently

hand,

unlikely

that

extension

21.

has been

irrigation

under

Supreme

Soviet.

(Environmental

Legislative

approved

Chernenko

As Gorbachev

rose

at

of

their

the

served

Protection

and

of the

as

1984

he

in 1979

of was

of

1982 Plenum,

authoritatively

1983.

On

the

implementation and

it

endorsement

other

of the seems

and

Plenum.

so he accumulated

a member

has always

be significant

Programme

further

October

Youth),

Commission

the

or

of the spectre

at the May

in March

and

"link",

which

It may

of the poor

in the Party,

Having

Proposals

critical

he

into

(RAPO's);

its advantages

conference

of

on the

level

because

endorsed

explained

provisions

he fully

advocate

it raises.

formally

a provincial

Gorbachev and

was

1982,

two of its

as it is now called,

which

of

Secretary

he has insisted

circles

a large

in May

General

associations

in Party

who first

at

drainage

system,

talents

in all aspects

at the local

a consistent

and little

document

involved

this

all

played

adopted

becoming

of agriculture

enterprise

it was Gorbachev

Since

in particular:

been

the system

policy

it and has endorsed

reservation

private

equally

during

Secretary

have

Programme,

agro-industrial

contract"

some

been

to Soviet

of the political

agricultural

progra mme.

has also

"collective

will

the Food

to have

based

the

and since,

to the General

undoubtedly

reorganisation

Gorbachev

Brezhnev

Gorbachev

elements

territorially

matters)

display

reaffirmed

decentralising genuine

ascribed

years,

this wide-ranging

agriculture,

political

Under

the major

but he is unlikely

and the search

contribution

for the public

in formulating

Brezhnev's

about

But

to him by the

initiative

of Gorbachev's

(and to other

been

energy,

the economy.

as a whole."

are hard to determine.

initiatives room

great

who knows

entrusted

I am talking

agro-industrial

The nature

man,

status

in the

2 Commissions made

(the only

Chairman

of

formal

use

the

that

CONFIDENTIAL

has been made Co mmission

in 1984

significance Politburo Soviet

of this move).

members,

the Altai

February

1985

Thanks

steadily

through

Gorbachev's brought

position

in from

(probably

Secretariat

earlier).

in November

1982

The

latter

ailing

must

23.

a Senior

the

Mongolian

Co mmunist publicised Hungarian

Soviet

his

look

at

his

and

his hosts unruffled

He paid

a more

in October

su mmer

1983

the

agricultural

visited

first

than

toured

Canadian

with

reaction

of

whether

of the the Party's 1983.

the

Portuguese

substantial, (according

CPSU

at

(1983)

though

less

to a

the others

Canada

at the head of a Supreme

to

West

the

Party.

their

He

had

agricultural

his detailed to

were

reform).

visit

rather

of

Thus,

represented

and

a

responsibilities

of running

this was one of 3 visits,

State,

Trudeau

(1982)

and though

confidence

the

Gorbachev

Chernenko.

There

organisation.

in

Secretary

the breadth

economic

the particular

was

senior

as General

of 1983,

of the burden

and

in the

to increase.

Gorbachev

to Hungary

served

in in June,

Party

Vietnamese

1983 Gorbachev

of

with

on

Congresses.

to

delegation,

impressing

much

of Suslov

in line after

on broader

Secretary,

(1981),

Soviet

Minister

Party

official

In May

the

fallen

visit

unpublicised,

24.

have

Party

third

in supervising

From

retirement,

took over

continued

taken

are true,

affairs

As

he had

Secretaries.

of the other

of the Summer

that he enjoyed

Andropov

ahead

was brought

that

in

Gorbachev

in May 1982 Andropov

of his having

for much

indications

or not stories

although

became

reponsibilities

he exchanged

departure

through

When Andropov

Gorbachev

role

the Party

the successive

because

(Romanov)

(which

agricultural

of his seniors,

and Kirilenko

Gorbachev's

and had some

among

improved,

was absent

new secretary

Siberia

the KGB and placed

Secretaries

to the Supreme

but less successful

and retirement

with

death,

a Deputy

the other

constituency).

his standing

of 1982,

Affairs

for the political

in common with

elected

in Southern

for a Moscow

the beginning

26 below

for another,

to the death

and of the Foreign

In 1980,

he was also

Krai

improved

Brezhnev

training)

(see paragraph

of the RSFSR

region,

22.

of his legal

knowledge

forthright

as

a representative

talks

with

Prime

enterprises,

of the subject assertions

of

and

the

CONFIDENTIAL

superiority

of private

appeared

before

National

Defence

of the Canadian

to questions,

taken.

For a Soviet to have

self-confidence Politburo

VIII. 25.

over

some

House

hostile,

politician

agreed

the Soviet

Co mmittee

the Standing

replied

Gorbachev

farming

to submit

Chernenko

Andropov

of the Party

of having

died

as General

in February

Secretaries,

Secretar 1984,

succeeded

uncontroversial

choice.

Nonetheless,

"old guard"

choosing

strengthened

one of their

by the fact

by Prime

Minister

previous

succession,

this occasion

that

Tikhonov

would

have

elderly

few days

contained

later

the Chair

the choice

closing

the

accumulated

senior

Gorbachev.

of some

Gorbachev's the Plenum,

the

an impression for the office

the case

in the

Secretary,

were

who on

rumours

in Party

of a

chosen

circles

in preference

unpublished

speech

in which

he had duly

this was presumably

done

that Gorbachev

capital

by mounting

of the rest

leadership.

of the

of the Presidium

thus relinquished of the Council was elected

accorded

Gorbachev

over

responsibility

status, in

by

would

supported

to dispel

such

When

his chairmanship

not power, the

Party

policy,

/+P11TT1

TT?

1TT

the

was

Soviet

in April

which

Affairs

Soviet, of itself

that

Secretariat

for

the

broad

towards

the

"Socialist"

Andropov

T

to

indicated

particularly

Chernenko,

challenge

of the Foreign

post,

his

Chernenko

of the Supreme

This

squandered

that he retained

of the Supreme

of the Union

have

a premature

indicated

in his place.

and foreign exercised

like

previously

confidence

countries,

very much

form a

rise

of ideology

an

in booklet

and his subsequent

the

This

published

Chernenko,

Commission

in line

Secretary.

dismay

had been

1985

Party.

political

Chairman

the next

Party

There

Secretary

It is in fact unlikely

Gorbachev

of his

1984-March

was proposed

as had been

proceedings

of Chernenko;

within

and not,

General

, Februar

own generation,

and indications

The Plenum

and

his own

the confidence

it looked

Chernenko

been

to Gorbachev.

1984

was

not only

and protocol,

by the next most

succession

that another

elected

record

and for

him as General

of precedence

26.

he

ordeal,

and Chernenko,

in terms

rumours

at which

is an unusual

was a safe and,

from

of Co mmons,

a verbatim

and

colleagues.

Under

disputed

Affairs

to it reflects

but his knowledge

He also

on External

while

this

system.

T

T r

and

Suslov

he had taken

before

area

him.

CONFIDENTIAL

In addition, general

Gorbachev

economic

exceptionally dictated

27.

questions;

broad

by there

and Romanov,

apart

health

succeed

special disguised

form

beginning anyone

Republics

in the Politburo

of the Party

message

was rubbed

witness

the Gorbachev

1985

rather

apparently revealed

casting

chairing

in effect

28.

This

did

or in sole

improvement

much.

Moreover, "moral

29.

down

In

General

was

20 above)

and

some

tough

evidently

later

speech

(Annex A), Gorbachev

in

any

absence

meeting

language

way

1984 Plenum

the approval

Gorbachev

and had

dictating

on land

of the 1985 Plan

(rather

than

from Gorbachev

and

the usual

was on holiday

in the Party went

to

Secretary.

The October

while

invited

the

television

in Chernenko's

Gorbachev

Politburo

the West

As Gromyko

Secretary

as

on 24 February

on Soviet

illuminating

command.

degenerates"

1984,

were

meetings

that

on 15 November

December toned

(para

mean

at an extended

Plenum)

with

Politburo

been acting

not

correspondents

at the elections

for General

of

than

and Tikhonov For

and

Soviets

nominations"

in a sanatorium). frank

in thinly

at the end of 1984 and

(who was shown

his vote

public

respectively.

voting

1984.

Gorbachev's

from Chernenko

Western

family

Gorbachev

thus

Budget

in when

at

that Gorbachev

for the Supreme

"honorary

and Government

in his remarkably

had been

more apart

than Chernenko

reco mmending

policy

of the USSR

he received

leaders

to the Soviet

below

notably

on 18 August

increased.

campaign"

Gorbachev

most

the likelihood

Secretary

in the "election

of 1985:

else

deteriorated,

in Moscow

was an

immediately

he was away,

games

was co mmunicated

the Constituent

himself.

for him when

him as General

position

Secretary

now ranked

of

was partly

Secretaries,

Gorbachev

of the "friendship"

As Chernenko's would

Secretariat

which

This

Party

the General

and substituted

the opening

2 senior

of agriculture;

organisation.

of responsibilities,

only

from

his supervision

and of Party

range

being

In the Party

Chernenko

maintained

indicate

as

on how to deal

in an important

speech

too far for his colleagues

on 10

and was

for publication.

December

1984

Gorbachev

head of a Soviet

parliamentary

self-confidence,

informality

visited

the

delegation. and keen

United

Kingdom

He demonstrated

interest

at

the

the same

as he had on his

CONFIDENTIAL

Canadian

visit,

this

interest,

prompted

potential

General

Gorbachev

proved

capable

time

by the fact Secretary himself

in debate

in handling

sufficient

confidence

He appeared

to take

Secretar

30.

died

General

Secretary

(it took almost

(Shcherbitsky,

Plenum

in time

for the Politburo Co mmittee

of the Central Moscow

in time

may have

Gorbachev, having

Soviet

the evidence

it

Soviet

Union

was

attention

Gorbachev the quick

General

not

had

difficult had

made

first

for

a robust

of

not able

the suspicion

that

move

points

to his

of it

the death

tours

visits

1983.

the

of

in Soviet

of yet

to

articulate

Leningrad, Moscow

to Warsaw

has

foreign made

by

of his power

full

use

by of

fit and

that

leader,

he

but

going

the

has

on holiday

Dnepropetrovsk

a General

and

performance.

to be fully

for the renewal trip

through

demonstrate

Before Kiev,

impact

economic

for a decade

Gorbachev

and

outside

first He

an immediate

to the full.

1982 - and been 26 April,

January

were

months

consolidation

Secretary

this circumstance he

and a number

and the speed from

made

for an improvement

now

- the

September

to deflect

Secretary

As the first

July

conclusion

to the US) was not

a potential

of the previous

of the

leader.

call

active

to forestall

and

One member

areas

Despite

a foregone

of leadership,

his urgent

exploited

necessary

announced

of Andropov

visit

from outlying

24

as

had been

meeting,

for the Plenum.

been

been

As General

his style

on a parliamentary

Within

of Gorbachev

of Chernenko).

another

since

1985.

the election

Co mmittee

at a Central

been designed

on

speed,

of 10 March

in the case

election

Pact

in the evening

in debate.

-

as long

against

Minsk

1985

He had

by his delegation.

4 times

this haste

13

liked

or notes)

his delegation

time to time

the election

to reach

32.

to give

to announce

members

31.

rights.

as long

to return

having

on human

twice

Politburo able

, March

with unprecedented

briefs

co mmand

and

policies,

without

the lead from

respected

IX. As General

hours,

questions

the

of his wife.

of Soviet

extempore

and personal

to be both

Chernenko

exponent

speaking

press

now being

and by the presence

sensitive

opportunities

greater

of Gorbachev's

a skilful

(often

and adroit

members

in the face of much

and

Secretary

since

of the Warsaw

a General television

Secretary to

on

deliver

CONFIDENTIAL

largely

extempore

no Soviet

homilies

leader

has attempted

he has been careful The newspapers,

to avoid

apparently

photographs

and rarely

traditional

flattery

33.

Gorbachev

leader

July

senior

industry,

Party

Secretary

military

Soviet

latter's

of Gromyko

(Georgian

promotion will

conduct

of domestic

to take

the Presidency

increase

apex

of

State

accoutrements

34.

Gorbachev

virtue

public

the

in

significant military

gathering

was

media)

indicator his

trip

of Defence,

of military Marshal

Chairman

Gorbachev

to

These in the

had been

Secretary.

offered

by

any loss of

the collective requisite

in October.

Defence

A Soviet

Council

by

spokesman

(it has not yet been made conference

where

He was

expected

set under

without

the

of the USSR

a press

to Minsk,

him

the

of the 21-strong

France

of Gorbachev's

leaders. Sokolov

gives

correspondents at

Minister

with

of manoeuvre

a member

visit

as General

to Western Soviet

along

(constitutionally

which

of the

Foreign

Secretary)

into semi-retirement

state

became

of his election this

the

his

also

confirmed

more

eg

as

the opportunity

Soviet

the

34 below);

of the Politburo.

elected

he

for the defence

he seized

was

- who had

of the Presidium

policy.

to the

(formally

instead

structure),

for

of Romanov

- see paragraph

freedom

and 1

Secretaries

the precedent

himself

the

before

following

but

as Party

and Ryzhkov

himself,

of the Supreme the

Party

leaders.

saw the elevation

replacement

Gorbachev's

to ease Gromyko

Gorbachev

Presidium

First

and foreign

his 3 predecessors,

face.

his

to full membership

changes

the vacancy

affairs

few

on 23 April

of 3 new Party

to Chairman

and

image

in the Secretariat

and responsible

(President)

by Shevardnadze

Plenums

the removal

and security

Party

to consolidate

- Ligachev

the election

cult.

been any of the

of other

on 2 July

Gorbachev

and Eltsin);

and the elevation Supreme

under

time

have published

a new dynamic

Party

Secretaries

At the same

has there

and skilfully

session

Secretary;

Zaikov

Nor

power.

Soviet

directly

General

(Nikonov, next

rapidly

of two Party

been working

him.

in a way

of a personality

behest,

projected

of his political

Politburo

became

at his own

quote

the people

Khrushchev.

any suggestion

has not only

and a Supreme

since

meeting

of him in the speeches

but has moved

substance

and be shown

on

emerging on

10

authority

July

accompanied

1 August.

he

A

over

addressed

by the Minister

and one of the new Party

Secretaries,

a

CONFIDENTIAL

L N Zaikov, taken

over

35.

As

for

indicating Party

Brezhnev) the

Gorbachev

came

quite

by

of

time

in February

36.

essence

expounded that

with

the

growth

a)

This

a marked Union

currently

being

practices,

b)

must on

shifting

as

the

basis

of

overall

draft

Five

of

Plan

bureaucratic

(drawing

of

Gorbachev

on

is

(as

has

been

Ministers

have

under

a

since

been

formed

taken

at

the

Party

instrument of

Eastern

the

so

this

end

established

European

as

experience,

of

are

civilian

machine of

laying

has

held

up

changes),

and

c)

to

shift

the

the

the

the

centre

of

productive

renounced

the

in

favour

of

of

central

system

rate

is

irrational

is capable

to

explicitly to

to

necessary

apparatus

its

and

has

speeches,

which

(Gorbachev

management

has

in

indiscipline

which

he of

reserves

priorities

the

which

slowdown

available

advance

to effect

the

use

there

well

called

Khrushchev).

in a number

the

economy

technological

an

under

policy,

urgency

waste,

the

gravity

sophisticated

of

by

system

as

(as

and

may

economic

readily

the

mechanism

stagnation

Committee

overcome

reorganising

enterprises.

process

has

and

and

has

Romanov.

Gorbachev

Secretaries

investment

sector

Year

inertia

Central

sense

squandered

building

levels,

movement,

Party

appointee,

from

voluntarism" on

a new

military

both

Gorbachev's

drawing

from

lower

a Gorbachev

1986.

of

Soviet

by

at

and

regional

Congress

The

the

avoid

to power.

the

latter,

of

is undoubtedly

turnover

far

would

"adventurism

accent

steady

changes

which

and

the

supervision

to personnel

a policy

But

that

market a more planning

particularly

that

of

the

GDR).

37.

Gorbachev's

emerge.

This

thinking

is

on

the

he the

went

Plenum so

far

outside

on

how

the

reasserting

on

foreign

not

surprising,

the

Soviet

arena

positions

extent

is

that

world

23 April

views

if

its

summing as

to

socialism

we

manage

borders Moscow's

of

Union

his

that

of

since

economy

up

say

policy

in

things the

a key

can

only

is

strong.

critique

of

the

"historic

the

modern

from

Soviet

leadership

issues

now

Union of

the

CONFIDENTIAL

aspect

make

the

its

influence

of

far

speech

has

"socialist"

main been

to

felt at

the

situation,

the

depend His

slower

Gorbachev's

economic

fate

on".

been of

In his

world

so

have

country

to

a large

influence in

countries

and

CONFIDENTIAL

following the

a period

presentation

Gorbachev's

the

of

drift,

Reagan

change

of

Gorbachev's

and

policy

forthcoming

President

X.

of

a new

visit

coming

Minister

intention

to

edge.

his The

to Paris

in November,

Foreign

in using

qualities

as

a close

to

announcements

in October they

described

take

own

and

did

hand

in

of

summit

with

immediately

in paragraph

after

33,

foreign

give

signalled

policy

issues.

Family

38.

Gorbachev

Moscow

Doctor

father

from

his

University,

the title Her

met

were of

had

husband's

political

system

Krai,

there.

published Kolkhoz

(She

in

certainly

now

of

previous

to

the

UK

figure

to

indeed

Soviet

at

further

played

a part

it was

undertaken the

goes

noted

break

with side

far

initiative

in

the

Kolkhozes

of

had

Way

of

her

he

the

Life

the

of is

of

husband has

became

"link" book

that

she

in

a small

Gorbachev

tradition

since

in her

her

beyond

above,

work.

on

as having

Mrs

is

Southern

development

"The

he.

mother

father's

As

Gorbachev's

her in

holds

than

to her

Study".)

which

leaders.

in a

publicly

a part

younger

owing

entitled,

a Sociological

year

at

now

region,

recorded

1969

(she

Altai

that

contributed

in

playing

and

says

Titorenko)

official,

has

was

Stavropol

Peasantry;

the

research

is

is one

Gorbacheva he

(nee

philosphy

railway

in

career:

which

She

childhood

Raisa

sociological

Stavropol

studying

former

born

a mobile

to Mlynar,

basic

a

Although

she

was

Maksimovna

Philosophy).

According

that

she

is Ukrainian,

Siberia.

Siberia,

wife , Raisa

the

wives

brought

her

continued

to

General

Secretary.

39.

The

Gorbachevs

achievements realist

school,

Gorbachev heard

and

made

take are

a

correcting

himself. is

a 4 year Mrs

go

down

birthday.

to

mother to his The

for home

Gorbachevs

art

slip

of

to

the

some

live

region

Soviet

one

when

not

time.

Stavropol linguists:

CONFIDENTIAL

Ilya

he

before

and

aged who

has

together; much

Gorbachev every

was

Irina,

surgeon

for

he

"Russia"

daughter,

and

Glazunov.

in Kiev

as

lives

them

nationalist

painter

Union

family

with

the of

are

the

tongue

have

The

of

by

national

Russian

a cardiovascular

Oksana. also

the

the

Gorbachevs to

in Russian

of

exemplified

married

parents

pride

the

refer

The

daughter,

Gorbachev's

Gorbachev's to

a Doctor

old

of

revealing

television

who

fond

currently

on

27,

a strong

of

the

himself

year learnt

for

time is

said

his

some

and

German

CONFIDENTIAL

in his

youth

speak

XI

only

and

has

not

and

as

with

who

the

has

risen

fortune

the

practical

the

first

war

or

recent

purposes

they

political

history

to have

Gorbachev

was

the

celebrations

May

1985 on

showed the

reference personal

former

made

his

traditionally relaxed

new

type

the

Brezhnev

he

Stalin

with

among

on

is not that

having name

this

entire

career

the

Soviet years

in

and years.

well

was

a

as

under

the

of

of

of

he

or

showed able

Brezhnev

This

in contrast

He to

CONFIDENTIAL

of

the to

in

exploit

that,

whatever

he

from

and His his

the is reverting

Gorbachev

whose operation

Gorbachev

the

of

war

evoke.

significantly,

of

war,

still

Volgograd

reached

the

to challenge

apparatus,

in

handling

(although

methods said,

in

wants

war

the

generational

His end

in

first

fight

the

of

became

fight

the

it.

the

also

Party

to

member

He

This

to

by

to prevent

secretive

to

and

predecessors,

the

succession

youngest

enough

young

Most

a

leaders.

degree.

affected

under

has

embarrassment

the

Stalin,

prepared

a

internationally.

old

too

when

severe

still

not

career

moment,

generation

politicians.

when,

political

to prove

Stalingrad).

cautious with

in his

occasion

emerged

that

the

memories

yet

agree

ability,

intervened of

Gorbachev

with

to his

anniversary

his

language

add

If

that

a common

To

Gorbachev,

40th

conclusions,

system.

a university

like

patriotism

to Stalin

of

credited

the

profound

for

directly

that,

views,

concept

its

of

and

draw

of

unusual

exaggerated.

certainly

air

the

acute

and

met

an

talents

office had

with

and

of

as

who

loyal

array

to a new

to hold

and

an

a propitious

that

was

and

an

him

at

intelligent

Gorbachev

finding

have

with

that

member

worth

problems

beginning

doubt

be

described

who

helped

belongs

not

has

of

as

He

own

gift

domestically

Politburo

should

build

has

listen.

convictions...

a leader

was

is no

Politburo,

the

student

his

to analyse

to power

Union

There

"strong

through

leaders

the

gap

has

Gorbachev

Soviet

.

of

has

which

elderly

of

politicians

now

brought

been

for

the to

Gromyko

ability

Union

who

good

a man

Western

Soviet man

conscious

nonetheless

people.

prepared

authority.

politician

has

but

Gorbachev

and

honest,

spontaneous

mind",

described

arrogant,

personally

to

English,

Russian.

Mylnar

open,

41

some

Conclusion

40.

of

she

have

not

does

represent

political

maturity

Stalin

and

Khrushchev

a in

CONFIDENTIAL

years,

the Party

domestic

and foreign

to specialist nearly

as possible

seems

satisfied

in this

On the evidence

rather far.

His attitude

radically

wrong

has been paid extent

where

him in good

stead.

the system

as the motor

self-denial

among

of truth",

however

example

at home

- are actually

and has used

in the first

months

energy

them

but that

among

to

put

capacity

to work

the

its performance

lip service to the

hard work alike;

the

and "language

the bolstering

by the force

into practice.

of his incumbency

can

"scientific-technological

position

greater

so

is nothing

propagandists;

and ability

through

successfully

to which

progress;

international

youth,

there

and the workforce

unpalatable,

Gorbachev

of decision-making

economy;

that as

and of his first

continue

principles

of economic

officials

Union's

his own relative process

system,

if those

in a planned

revolution"

of the Soviet

background

- the decentralisation

possible

involved.

intellectual

be, that

and listened

solutions

that he has exploited

the Soviet

improved

his

he will

is, as it must

with

be significantly

atmosphere,

of the

sought

up with

all the interests

as leader,

than against

with,

to come

of Gorbachev's

and actions

the complexity

it was dealing

and attempted

to have stood

speeches

recognised

issues

advice

has thrived

42.

leadership

He seems

as a catalyst

effect

than

as General

of its to see

in this

had been Secretary.

expected

Annex

A

SPEECH

BY

COMRADE

A A GROMYKO

[AT

THE

CC,

CPSU

PLENUM

11 MARCH 1985]

1. Comrades! I have been instructed to present for the consideration of the Plenum of the CC, CPSU a proposal on the question of the candidacy for the General Secretary of the CC. The Politburo unanimously (edino_dushno) expressed itself in favour of recommending Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev for election as General Secretary. (Prolonged applause.) 2. I would like to convey to the members of the CC, CPSU, candidate members of the CC, members of the Central Revision Commission and all who are present the content of the discussion of this question and the atmosphere in which this discussion took place. 3. Fizst of all the thought was emphasised that all the activity of Mikhail Sergeevich in implementing our internal and external policy confirms that he is worthy for election as the General Secretary of the CC, CPSU. It was stressed that he has enormous experience of Party work. First of all at Krai level and then here, in the centre, in the Central Committee: first as a Secretary, then as a member of the Politburo. He led the Secretariat, as is known. He also chaired the meetings of the Politburo in the absence of Konstantin Ustinovich Chernenko. He conducted himself brillantly, without any exaggeration. 4. What else was stressed? Together with his Party experience, and this is an invaluable gift, it was stressed that this is a man of principle, a man of strong convictions. Anyone who has met him and

discussed

the

relevant

questions

can

confirm

this.

I can

confirm this personally. He always keeps attention focussed on the nub of the question, its content and on the principles, and he states his position directly, whether it is to the liking of his interlocutor

it with

or,

perhaps,

directness,

not

Leninist

entirely

to

his

liking.

He

states

and it is up to his interlocutor whether he goes off in a good or not so good mood; if he is a real Communist then he should go off in a good mood; that is the way it has been, by the way, and this was also stressed. 5. During the discussion was also said that Mikhail profound

intellect,

and

directness,

of this question in the Politburo it Sergeevich is a man of a sharp and

anyone

who

knows

him,

even

if he

has

met

him only once, that questions

will confirm this. After all, it often happens - both internal and external - are very difficult

to

one

consider

if

is

guided

by

the

law

of

"black

and

white".

There can be intermediate colours, intermediate links and intermediate decisions. And Mikhail Sergeevich always knows how to find such decisions, which accord with the Party line. This was stressed unanimously. And for him it is precisely this which has been and remains the main criterion in assessing the position of this or that comrade, this or that institution, or in assessing the

problem

at

issue.

6. This too must be said. Perhaps this is somewhat clearer to me by virtue of my function than to some other comrades. He grasps very well and quickly the essence of the processes taking place

outside often

our country,

been

struck

by

in the his

international

ability,

quickly

arena. and

I myself

accurately

have

to

grasp

CODE 18-77 AWO Ltd. 7/94

/essence

the

essence

of a matter,

and to draw

conclusions,

correct,

Party

conclusions.

7. Mikhail Sergeevich - and this is also well known - is a man of broad erudition both through his education and through his work experience. All of this of course makes it easier for him to find the correct solutions. And another illustration; if what was taking place in this auditorium now was, say, a scientific forum, everybody would probably say: this man knowns how to approach problems analytically. That is the absolute truth. He has brilliant ability in this respect - he can sort a question out into compartments, into parts before drawing a conclusion. Not only does he analyse problems well, he can also sum them up and draw conclusions. Politics sometimes require one not only to sort questions or parts of questions out into their compartments - if one did, they would lie inert - but also to draw conclusions, so that these conclusions can be put to the service of our policies. He has demonstrated this more than once at meetings of the Politburo, and at meetings of the Secretariat of the CC. 8.

Further,

Sergeevich

has

the comrades a Party

stated

approach

unanimously

to

people,

that Mikhail

a great

talent

for

organising people and finding a.common language with them. This is not given to everyone. Call what you wish - a gift of nature or a gift of society. It's most probably a gift of both. Not everyone is given it. At least not everyone to the same degree. This quality is to be found in him. 9.

Further,

we live

in the sort

on the Soviet Union, figuratively and a lot of them, large, small, possibly more at long range than

look to see whether in the

Soviet

of world

they can eventually

leadership.

And

where

there

are trained

speaking, various telescopes, close range and long range. And at short range. And people

I assure

find you

any sort of cracks

that

dozens

and

dozens of times we have been advised of instances of this and have observed them. If you like, we have been witnesses of conversations, whispered and semi-whispered guesses; some people abroad are thirsting to spot disagreements in the Soviet leadership. Of course this did not originate today or yesterday. This phenomenon has been observed over the course of many years. The unanimous opinion of the Politburo is that on this occasion again we, the Central Committee of the Party and the Politburo, will not

give

our

political

oponents

any

satisfaction

on

this

score.

(Applause). 10. Mikhail Sergeevich very many times, including in the Politbur expressed himself in favour of the need for us, as they say, to keep ouY powder dry. The corresponding decisions of our congresses plenums of the Central Committee, and of the Politburo orient the Party and the people towards this policy. 11.

The

by their

judgements

maturity

of

and

Mikhail

tenacity,

Sergeevich

are

in the best

always

sense

Party tenacity. He always defends the point of view holies for all of us is to struggle for the cause of keep our defence at the necessary level.

'2.

The ability

to see the main

links

distinguished

of this word, thatZ peace

and to subordinate

oly and

of

what is

/secondary

secondary to what is primary is in the highest degree innate in him. This ability is a virtue, and a great virtue. So the conclusion which the Politburo drew is a correct conclusion. In the person of Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, we have a figure of a broad scale, an outstanding figyre, who will worthily occupy the post of General Secretary of, CC, CPSU. (Prolonged applause) I would like to express confidence that the plenum of the CC, like the Politburo, will unanimously support and approve the proposal which has been put forward. (Prolonged applause).

CODE 18-77 AWO

ltd. 7/84

CONFIDENTIAL

Annex

B

Gorbachev' s aides 1. In the later years of Brezhnev's tenure of office the aides to the General Secretary ( omoshchniki Generalno o sekretar a) began to feature more prominently and to achieve political standing of their own (as members of the Party's Central Co mmittee and Deputies to the Supreme

Soviet).

2. Andropov and Chernenko took over some of their respective predecessors' aides, brought in their own personal aides and took on some new ones. At his death Chernenko probably had 6 aides (A M Aleksandrov-Agentov, V V Pribytkov, V V Sharapov, V A Pechenev, P P Laptev and A I Voisky).

3. When Gorbachev became a Party Secretary in 1978 he inherited his predecessor Kulakov's aide, A P Lushchikov (born 1917), a former Deputy Head of the Agricultural Department of the Central Co mmittee. Lushchikov was last identified in September 1984 and may have been replaced by V I Boldin, a former economic observer specialising in agriculture on the staff of Pravda. (Boldin was responsible for the brochure version of Gorbachev's 10 December 1984 speech on ideology.) Another aide who may have joined Gorbachev is L I Grekov (not to be confused with the Soviet Ambassador to Bulgaria), who was replaced in April 1984 as responsible secretary to the editorial board of the journal "Questions of Philosophy" and has since appeared as responsible for the brochure version of Gorbachev's 17 May 1985 speech in Leningrad.

4. Gorbachev, however, brought no aide with him to the UK in December 1984, and since his election as General Secretary only Aleksandrov-Agentov and Sharapov (both dealing with foreign affairs questions) have appeared and been named as his aides. On the other hand, 3 of Chernenko's aides have been given new jobs; Pribytkov as Deputy Head of Glavlit (the Soviet censorship office), Pechenev as Deputy Editor of the CPSU journal Politicheskoe Samoobrazovanie and Volsky as Head of the Central Co mmittee's Machine Building Department (a downgrading for the first two, who were Chernenko's personal aides, and an upgrading for the last named, a former First Deputy Head of the Department, who was taken on by Andropov and inherited by Chernenko).

5. Thus of Chernenko's 6 aides, 2 have gone to Gorbachev, 3 to other work, and the fate of one, Laptev (inherited from Andropov), is unclear. It is not yet clear how many other aides Gorbachev has, but the evidence so far is that he has trimmed down the personal staff

which

his

recent

predecessors

have

CONFIDENTIAL

had.