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N0KFQ > TODAY 07.07.16 16:24l 48 Lines 2298 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 98983_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Jul 7
Path: IW8PGT<CX2SA<N9PMO<GB7LDI<N0KFQ
Sent: 160707/1421Z 98983@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1983
Samantha Smith leaves for visit to the USSR
Samantha Smith, an 11-year-old American girl, begins a two-week
visit to the Soviet Union at the invitation of Soviet leader Yuri
Andropov. Some American observers believed that Smith was merely
being used by the Soviets for their own propaganda purposes,
while others saw her visit as a positive step toward improving
U.S.-Russian relations.
In April 1983, the Soviet government released a letter written by
Smith to Andropov as part of a school project. In the letter,
Smith asked Andropov about his country and whether he wanted
peace with the United States. Surprisingly, Andropov answered the
letter personally, assuring Smith that he had the greatest
friendliness toward America and wished only for peace and mutual
understanding. He ended by inviting Smith to come see the Soviet
Union for herself. The fifth grader accepted Andropov's offer and
the trip was set for July 1983. Almost immediately, Smith's
family was flooded with letters from Americans, most of whom
supported Samantha's decision. Many, however, sharply criticized
her upcoming visit, claiming that it was merely a propaganda ploy
by the communists. To some extent, they were right: Andropov
clearly saw the Smith visit as an opportunity to try to dispel
some negative impressions of the Soviet Union. On the other hand,
Andropov also was clear about wanting closer relations with the
West, and his invitation to the small girl was one way of
indicating this desire.
During her two weeks in Russia, Smith was treated as a VIP and
given a carefully arranged tour of the Soviet Union. However, she
also found time to speak to groups of Soviet citizens who made no
attempt to hide some of the problems facing their nation,
particularly food shortages. For her part, Smith absolutely
charmed her hosts and became a famous figure almost overnight.
Arriving back in the United States two weeks later, she indicated
that she firmly believed that the Soviets "want no harm to the
world, just like us." When asked whether she would like to live
in Russia, she praised her communist hosts but declared that she
would "rather live in my own country."
73 - K.O., n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
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