Back around 1983/1984 I attended a conference at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco. During the cocktail hour I chanced into a quite frankly charming fellow and we talked at length about the USSR. I noted my interest in not just Faberge eggs (a tad cliché) but the general folk art of the Pascha Eggs.
After we shook hands and parted ways I was informed by someone else that the charming fellow was Vladimir Pozner who at the time was something of a representative for the USSR in the USA.
That led to an extensive contact report and debrief for me.
Some time later he sent me a package with twelve beautifully detailed Pascha egg Christmas ornaments (they’re made of wood) and a few copies of ‘Soviet Life’ magazine.
It was a very thoughtful gift and also a tad unnerving as I had never given him my full name or home address. Still, I appreciate what I am sure was a very thoughtful gift on his part.
Very interesting!
I went to a few lectures at the Commonwealth Club back in the 1990’s-2000’s and I certainly never had such a fascinating adventure!
The Soviets were indeed very good at this sort of thing. Very clever of them.
“Back around 1983/1984 I attended a conference at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco.”
Interesting.
Back in 1983 I met Pozner at the Commonwealth Club in Richmond,VA.
George H.W. Bush, Nichols (CEO Nations Bank), Wilder (governor?) were in attendance. Dinner and cocktails. Meet and greet. You know the drill.
Glasnos and perestroika were buzz words back then.
5.56mm