Title

My years with Gorbachev and Shevardnadze: the memoir of a Soviet interpreter.

Description

As the principal English interpreter for Mikhail Gorbachev and his foreign minister, Eduard Shevardnadze, in the critical period of 1985-1991, Pavel Palazchenko participated in all U.S.-Soviet summit talks leading to the end of the Cold War. This personal and political memoir sheds new light on Soviet-American relations and personalities during that time.Palazchenko focuses on what he saw with his own eyes during important negotiating sessions with world leaders such as Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Secretaries of State George Shultz and James Baker, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He shares his impressions and opinions about these leaders as well as their Soviet counterparts and gives a firsthand account of the phase of preparation leading up to important international events, including the process of hammering out positions on sensitive arms control issues. Palazchenko describes the events themselves, such as the summits in Reykjavik, Malta, and Moscow, adding many fascinating details to previous accounts.

Identifier

2500177

271016035

Creator

Palazhchenko, P

Contributor

Oberdorfer, Don

Source

Brian Lamb Booknotes Collection

Gift of Brian Lamb, 2011.

Catalog record

Language

eng

Date

1997

Program air date: June 8, 1997

Publisher

Pennsylvania State University Press

George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives

Text

Transcription of Annotations

Notes on front endpapers: b. 1949 my grandmother arrested. 1974 married Lyudmila, 1986 married Lena, Liza born 1987. Impact of the Beatles, owe my accent. Stalinism. Czech invasion 1968 took it hard. 74-79 the U.N.--5years not married, not quite reliable. Condescending attitude toward diplomats. The August coup Book--French misprint p 331. Gor. last call to Bush p 364. Gor and Bush 'conversations in the car' 1987 p 80. Bugs in the embassies p. 66. Shev. in his 5 1/2 years on the Foreign Min. not much sightseeing. Was Daniloff clean in your opinion p 51. Did Americans ever have anything to fear from Russia. You feared China--you say it was exaggerated. VOA-tuned in to learn about Afghan. Senile Brezhnev. The Coup--NFL football tape p 311. Why were Gorb and Shev. at odds? The play Ides of March by Thornton Wilder p 330. Story of Reagan and Gorb. the dacha demise and the Bolshoi p 92. Akhromeyev's suicide. Shultz and Shev.--hundreds of homes together over 5 years. [Verso]: Simultaneous translations--IBM George, Finley 1926 p 32/French until WWI Wilson. George. Front fly sheet: What was Reagan like out of the spotlight? What was he like in that 1st meeting with Shev. 1985. At Geniva summit 1985. When did you notice a relaxation. Underlinings/Notes: Underlinings: Lamb has underlined selective incidents on the Contents page. Rev. times cruel to decent people. Working hours, doesn't mention personal, secret things. Family background, early years, education, observations on politics, people like Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Ronald Reagan, Shevardnadze, and Gorbachev. Notes: "Gleam," "confidentiality," "two headed eagle," "my grandma," "student, Beatles," "China," "started interpreting," "command of lang, knowledge, boldness," "condescending attitude," "Soviet inferiority," "Shevchenko," "how rotten things were," "VOA," "sacrificing freedom," "big shots," "two years," "French," "George, Finley," "1951 Russian, Chinese, Spanish, French, English," "Star Wars," "Dinner Reagans/Gorb," "1986 married Lena," "Daniloff," "Shev asked my opinion," "Shultz," "Bugs in the embassies," "Bush on his campaign," "Pavel record conversation with Bush," "savage a reporter," "bumped my head," "Baker and his Russian born teachers," "1989 watershed," "I was no hero," "my mother in Czech,," "change in attitude," "suicides," "Bush wants to inform Yeltsin" "the play Ides of March," "Gor. and speechwriter," "French publisher," "friends," "anxiety," "John Major," "Kissinger," "1992," "Gor. break w. Shev.," "anti-Western tendency."

Subject

"Palazhchenko, P. (Pavel)"

"Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich, 1931---Friends and associates."

"Shevardnadze, Ėduard Amvrosievich, 1928---Friends and associates."

"Translators--Soviet Union--Biography."

Relation

Original Booknotes interview

Rights

This work may be protected by copyright laws and is provided for educational and research purposes only. Any infringing use may be subject to disciplinary action and/or civil or criminal liability as provided by law. If you believe that you are the rights-holder and object to Mason’s use of this image, please contact speccoll@gmu.edu.