Mikhail Gorbachev

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachyov (Gorbachev) {{Audio|ru-Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev.ogg|listen}} ({{lang-ru|??????? ?????????? ????????}}; pronunciation: {{IPA|/mixaˈɪɫ serˈgejevɪtʃ g?rbaˈtʃof/}}) (born March 2, 1931), was leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991. His attempts at reform led to the end of the Cold War, but also caused the end of the political supremacy of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Early life and political career

Mikhail Gorbachev was born into a peasant family in the village of Privolnoye near Stavropol. He studied law at Moscow University, where he met his future wife, Raisa. They were married in September 1953 and moved to Gorbachev's home region of Stavropol in southern Russia when he graduated in 1955.

Related Topics:
Stavropol - Moscow University - Raisa - September - 1953 - 1955

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Gorbachev joined the CPSU in 1952 at the age of 21. In 1966, at age 35, he graduated from the Agricultural Institute as an agronomist-economist. His career moved forward rapidly, and in 1970, he was appointed First Secretary for Agriculture and the following year made a member of the Central Committee. In 1972, he headed a Soviet delegation to Belgium and two years later, in 1974, he was made a Representative to the Supreme Soviet, and Chairman of the Standing Commission on Youth Affairs. He was elevated to the Politburo in 1979. There, he received the patronage of Yuri Andropov, head of the KGB and also a native of Stavropol, and was promoted during Andropov's brief time as leader of the Party before his death in 1984. With responsibility over personnel, working together with Andropov, 20 percent of the top echelon of government ministers and regional governors were replaced, often with younger men. During this time Grigory Romanov, Nikolai Ryzhkov, and Yegor Ligachev were elevated, the latter two working closely with Gorbachev, Ryzhkov on economics, Ligachev on personnel. He was also close to Konstantin Chernenko, Andropov's successor, serving as second secretary.

Related Topics:
1952 - 1966 - 1970 - 1972 - Belgium - 1974 - Supreme Soviet - Politburo - 1979 - Yuri Andropov - KGB - 1984 - Grigory Romanov - Nikolai Ryzhkov - Yegor Ligachev - Konstantin Chernenko

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His positions within the new CPSU created more opportunities to travel abroad that would profoundly affect his political and social views in the future as leader of the country. In 1975, he led a delegation to West Germany, and in 1983 he headed a Soviet delegation to Canada to meet with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and members of the Canadian House of Commons and Senate. In 1984, he traveled to the United Kingdom, where he met with Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Related Topics:
1975 - West Germany - Canada - Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau - Canadian House of Commons - Senate - 1984 - United Kingdom - Prime Minister - Margaret Thatcher

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