Top Reagan Russia-adviser passes away at age 94
(MENAFN) Suzanne Massie, an American author and informal adviser to President Ronald Reagan on Soviet affairs, passed away on January 26 at the age of 94 in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She died from complications related to vascular dementia and is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Massie was instrumental in shaping Reagan's understanding of Soviet culture and diplomacy during the Cold War, contributing to a thaw in US-Russia tensions. Born in New York City in 1931, she was the daughter of a Swiss diplomat and studied at Vassar College and the Sorbonne. Fluent in Russian, she first visited the USSR in the 1960s for historical research on the Romanov dynasty, which influenced her later writings.
Her notable work, Land of the Firebird: The Beauty of Old Russia, caught the attention of President Reagan, who read all of her books. Between 1984 and 1988, Massie met with Reagan multiple times to offer insights that informed his diplomacy with the Soviet Union. One of her key contributions was introducing Reagan to the Russian proverb “Doveryai, no proveryai” (“Trust but verify”), which became a cornerstone of arms control talks with Mikhail Gorbachev.
Massie remained independent throughout her advisory role, refusing payment for her services. She believed in the importance of understanding Russia’s culture and traditions, separating the government from the people. After the Soviet Union dissolved, she continued her work on Russia, frequently visiting the country and maintaining a residence in St. Petersburg, which she regarded as her spiritual home.
In 2021, Massie was granted Russian citizenship by President Vladimir Putin, acknowledging her lifelong efforts to bridge the gap between the US and Russia. She continued advocating for better US-Russia relations, especially in the wake of the Ukraine conflict. Massie’s final wishes included having part of her ashes scattered at Pavlovsk Palace near St. Petersburg, and her personal archive will be donated to the Presidential Library in the city.
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