Important Cold War Figures

Joseph Stalin: dictator of USSR from 1927-1953. Ruled by terror and transformed peasant society to industrial and military super power. Revolutionary politics and strategy brought him to power and he sent enemies to labour camps or execution during the “purge”. “I believe one thing only, the power of human will”... “But it is nothing: a brave man should always be brave” (31.. talking about his wife’s suicide)... “soviet power in Russia is the base, the bulwark, the refuge of the revolutionary movement of the entire world” (32)... “our country is the base of world revolution”... “spiritual devastation and bitterness”

Mikhail Milstein: Lieutenant-general of Military Intelligence (GRU) spy

Marshal Georgizhukov: Led troops into Berlin, paraded on horse. Stalin says “screws.. without whom all of us would not be worth a damn”... then sends him in to exile

Andrei Gromyko: Soviet Ambassador to Washington (1943-1945) “Stalin oriented towards post war cooperation with the West (US)” (39)

Maxim Litvinov: Russian revolutionary diplomat. Jew and old Bolshevik, he hated the rigidity and xenophobia. He discussed pos ware reparations and peace treaties (40).. “argued strongly for the possibility of cooperation “cooperate with allies or break off ties altogether”.. “division of spheres of influence between two powers.. was inevitable”... He advocated creation of great power club that went “against the will of USSR”. His Arguments were based on Common sense” (41)

Ivan Maisky: Involved in foreign affairs and post war reparations and peace treaties. “Soviet goal to ensure durable peace” “10 years for healing wounds inflicted by war” … “30-50 years for Europe to become socialist”.. GB was “conservative imperialism” “probable and desirable foreign policy.. be strengthened friendship with US and England”(40) .. Balance of power game.. Believed: Proletarian revolutions would lead to tense relations and Us and GB were “crucial sources of assistance to postwar rehabilitation”

George Kennan: “if Hitler invaded Hell, I would at least make a favorable reference to the Devil in the House of Commons.” reported that Coop between US and USSR was futile (1946)

Roosevelt: “I would minimize the general Soviet problem as much as possible because these problems, in one form or another, seem to arise every day and most of the straighten out..”(54)

Senator Harry S Truman: “If we see Germany is winning we ought to help Russia and if Russia is winning we aught to help Germany”

Henry L. Stimson: Secretory of War: formed the Interim Committee to discuss Military Use of the Atomic Bomb. Like Marshal, he saw the bomb as a “new relationship of man to the universe” (63).. must be controlled to assure “future peace rather than a menace to civilization” … would not give Japan a warning. “I consider the problem of our satisfactory relations with Russia as not merely connected with but as virtually dominated by the problem of the atomic bomb”.. “the only way you can only make a man trustworthy, is to trust him” (69) Believes the best approach is a direct proposal and arrangement with Russia to control and limit use of the atomic bomb. Jerome Franck- Chaired a committee of Chicago scientists working on the Manhattan project. He “petitioned Stimson to use a non-combative demonstrative of power of the atomic bomb to improve chances for a post war agreement on international control of nuclear weapons” (65) Discussed the general consensus of American people against the bomb. Use the bomb because the russians will be able to develop it without any moral restraints and the taxpayers money has been invested in the Manhatten Project.

James Byrnes: Secretary of State, he discussed the bomb and thought that if we told Russia Stalin would wish to be apart of the partnership. He wished to stay ahead and to “have better political relations with russia”(63) Use the bomb as diplomatic leverage at conferences.