Letters to the Editor

Khrushchev and the 20th Party Congress

To the Editors:

...Sergo Mikoyan’s piece [in Russian Life, Jan/Feb 2006] on [Nikita Khrushchev’s] secret speech is especially interesting and informative.

...Whatever the precise circumstances leading up to the speech, it must be emphasized that it was Khrushchev who, in the face of enormous risks, summoned the courage and foresight to insist it be given and delivered it himself. Further, he made several last-minute alterations of drafts submitted at his request by such party luminaries as Pospelov, Aristov and Shepilov. In the version actually presented, the First Secretary took it upon himself to incorporate numerous personal comments and colorful stories, some spontaneously added. In short, Khrushchev had grasped the moment, plunged into a gaping abyss, and forever changed the course of Soviet history.

Ramsdell Gurney, Jr., Ph.D.

Asheville, NC

To the Editors:

Immediately following the close of the 20th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party, Lazar Kaganovich met with cohorts Malenkov, Molotov and Shelepin to plan how to thwart Nikita Khrushchev. The four of them worked for a year to compile a file on every management error that Khrushchev made.

It all came to a head at a meeting of the Presidium in June 1957. Nikita did not waste time, nor give Lazar an opportunity to speak. He unveiled 32 letters written by Kaganovich to the NKVD, demanding arrest of many Soviet leaders, including 10 executives in his commissariat, only because they seemed suspicious. Nikita had more documents that proved Kaganovich had people arrested simply because he was paranoid.

Khrushchev spoke for hours with evidence to support his accusations against Kaganovich, who countered, “Your hands are bloodstained too!” Nikita replied, “I was carrying out your orders. I am not responsible for those decisions, but you are!”

After Khrushchev succeeded Stalin, he spared Kaganovich’s life. He assigned Kaganovich to manage the Ural Potash Works provided that there was compliance. Later in life, Kaganovich lived incognito in a two room, secluded apartment. The once swaggering dominator, who without conscience cavalierly drove 20 million persons to their deaths, died naturally in 1991.

In retrospect, the 20th century proved that civilization is just a veneer on mankind.

Sincerely yours,

Michael A. Chaszeyka

Western Springs, IL

Ballet error

To the Editors:

In the Jan/Feb 2006 issue of Russian Life, twice in the article titled, Ballet Map of Russia, the author refers to the leading ballerinas in a ballet company as “prima donnas.” The correct term(s) for this position should be “prima ballerina,” “ballerina,” “principal dancer,” or “soloist.” The supreme title of “prima ballerina assoluta” is reserved for the greatest ballerinas of all time such as Ulanova, Plisetskaya, Fonteyn, Alonso, etc.

A “prima donna,” or “diva” is used to define a female opera singer. These words can also refer to someone that is temperamental, difficult to work with and very demanding.  Whereas some ballerinas may fit that description, to do so would be most inappropriate; in the ballet world the word “prima donna,” or “diva” does not connote a compliment.

Sincerely,

Helene Breazeale, Ph.D.

Baltimore, MD