Word: brezhnevs
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...would be reasonable to look for Brezhnev's heir among leaders now in their middle or late 50s. In this age group, though, the Kremlin's cupboard is nearly bare. Only three of the 15 Politburo members are under 60; only one of these. Fyodor Kulakov, 58, appears to be correctly positioned for a run at the top job. Kulakov, an agronomist and highly visible Brezhnev protege, delivered the keynote speech at this year's traditional observation of the Bolshevik Revolution...
...Brezhnev inherited many problems from his rambunctious, buccaneering predecessor, Nikita Khrushchev-icy relations with the West, a desire for more freedom in the Soviet satellite states of Eastern Europe, an economy retarded by the chaotic situation in agriculture brought about by Khrushchev's constant tinkering...
...Brezhnev did not make the mistake of moving all the way toward one-man power, as Khrushchev did during his last days. Therefore, responsibility for success or failure could be shared with other members of the Politburo. Brezhnev-praised by Richard Nixon more than once as the shrewdest of shrewd politicians-accomplished "collegia!" rule with astonishing success. He has nonetheless had mixed results in foreign policy, his principal achievement having been to convince his colleagues that detente with the West is desirable and necessary. The thriving state of Communist parties in Italy, France and elsewhere is taken by Moscow...
...Brezhnev has approved increases in the Soviet military budget that have financed an unparalleled improvement in Russian missilery and a vast enlargement of the Soviet navy. This has sparked a lively debate about the need for strengthening NATO and has undoubtedly caused the U.S. to keep its defense spending...
Nonetheless, observers in Moscow detect a distinct mellowness in some Brezhnev-dictated policies. Last month he passed word through outgoing Treasury Secretary William Simon to the President-elect that the Soviet Union has no intention of testing Carter in the early days of his Administration...