TED KENNEDY’S LEGACY- A MEMO FROM V. CHEBRIKOV
TO COMRADE Y. V. ANDROPOV, 1983

Special Importance                                                                        

Committee on State Security of the USSR

14.05.1983 No. 1029 Ch/OV

Moscow 

Comrade Y. V. Andropov
 

On 9-10 May of this year, Senator Edward Kennedy’s close friend and trusted confidant J.

Tunney was in Moscow.  The senator charged Tunney to convey the following message, through

confidential contacts, to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party

of the Soviet Union, Y. Andropov:

Senator Kennedy, like other rational people, is very troubled by the current state of Soviet-

American relations.  Events are developing such that this relationship coupled with the general

state of global affairs will make the situation even more dangerous.  The main reason for this is

Reagan’s belligerence and his firm commitment to deploy new American middle range nuclear

weapons within Western Europe.

According to Kennedy, the current threat is due to the President’s refusal to engage any

modification to his politics.  He feels that his domestic standing has been strengthened because of

the well publicized improvement of the economy: inflation has been greatly reduced, production

levels are increasing as is overall business activity.  For these reasons, interest rate will continue

to decline.  The White House has portrayed this in the media as the “success of Reaganomics.”

Naturally, not everything in the province of economics has gone according to Reagan’s plan.  A

few well known economists and members of financial circles, particularly from the north-eastern

states, foresee certain tendencies that may bring about a new economic crisis in the USA. 

This could bring about the fall of the presidential campaign of 1984, which would benefit the

Democratic party.  Nevertheless, there are no secure assurances this will indeed develop.

The only real potential threats to Reagan are problems of war and peace and Soviet-American

relations.  These issues, according to the senator, will without a doubt become the most important

of the election campaign.   The movement advocating a freeze on nuclear arsenals of both

countries continues to gain strenght in the United States.  The movement is also willing to accept

preparations, particularly from Kennedy, for its continued growth.  In political and influential

circles of the country, including within Congress, the resistance to growing military expenditures

is gaining strenght.
 

However, according to Kennedy, the opposition to Reagan is still very weak.  Reagan’s

adversaries are divided and the presentations they make are not fully effective. Meanwhile,

Reagan has the capabilities to effectively counter any propaganda.  In order to neutralize criticism

that talks between the USA and USSR are non-constructive, Reagan will be grandiose, but

subjectively propagandistic.   At the same time, Soviet officials who speak about disarmament

will be quoted out of context, silenced or groundlessly and whimsically discounted.   Although

arguments and statements by officials of the USSR do appear in the press, it is important to note 

the majority of Americans do not read serious newspapers or periodicals.

Kennedy believes that, given the current state of affairs, and in the interest of peace, it would be

prudent and timely to undertake the following steps to counter the militaristic politics of Reagan

and his campaign to psychologically burden the American people.    In this regard, he offers the

 following proposals to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of

the Soviet Union Y. V. Andropov:

1.  Kennedy asks Y. V. Andropov to consider inviting the senator to Moscow for a personal

meeting in July of this year.  The main purpose of the meeting, according to the senator, would be

to arm Soviet officials with explanations regarding problems of nuclear disarmament so they may

be better prepared and more convincing during appearances in the USA.  He would also like to

inform you that he has planned a trip through Western Europe, where he anticipates meeting

England’s Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and French President Mitterand in which he will

exchange similar ideas regarding the same issues.
 

If his proposals would be accepted in principle, Kennedy would send his representative to

Moscow to resolve questions regarding organizing such a visit.

Kennedy thinks the benefit of a meeting with Y. V. Andropov will be enhanced if he could also

invite one of the well known Republican senators, for example, Mark Hatfield.   Such a meeting

will have a strong impact on Americans and political circles within the USA.  (In March of 1982,

Hatfield and Kennedy proposed a project resolution to freeze the nuclear arsenals of the USA and

the USSR and published a book on this theme as well).

2.  Kennedy believes that in order to influence Americans it would be important to organize in

August-September of this year, televised interviews with Y. V. Andropov in the USA.  A direct

appeal by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet

Union to the American people will, without a doubt, attract a great deal of attention and interest

in the country.  The senator is convinced this would receive the maximum resonance in so far as

television is the most effective method of mass media and information.

If the proposal is recognized as worthy, then Kennedy and his friends will bring about the suitable

steps to have representatives of the largest television companies in the USA contact Y. V.

Andropov for an invitation to Moscow for the interview.  Specifically, the president of the board

of directors of ABC, Elton Raul and television columnists Walter Conkrite or Barbara Walters

could visit Moscow.  The senator underlined the importance that this initiative should be seen as

coming from the American side. 

Furthermore, with the same purpose in mind, a series of televised interviews in the USA with

lower level Soviet officials, particularly from the military would be organized.  They would also

have an opportunity to appeal directly to the American people about the peaceful intentions of the

USSR, with their own arguments about maintaining a true balance of power between the USSR

and the USA in military terms.  This issue is quickly being distorted by Reagan’s administration.
 

Kennedy asked to convey, that this appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of

the Communist Party of the Soviet Union is his effort to contribute a strong proposal that would

root out the threat of nuclear war, and improve Soviet-American relations, so that they define

the safety for the world.  Kennedy is very impressed with the activities of Y. V. Andropov and

other Soviet leaders, who have expressed their commitment to heal international affairs, and improve

mutual understandings between peoples.
 

The senator underscored that he eagerly awaits a reply to his appeal, the answer to which may be

delivered through Tunney.

Having conveyed Kennedy’s appeal to the General Secretary of the Central Committee of

the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , Tunney also explained that Senator Kennedy has in the

last few years actively made appearances to reduce the threat of war.  Because he formally

refused to partake in the election campaign of 1984, his speeches would be taken without

prejudice as they are not tied to any campaign promises.  Tunney remarked that the senator wants

to run for president in 1988.  At that time, he will be 56 and his personal problems, which could

hinder his standing, will be resolved (Kennedy has just completed a divorce and plans to re-marry

in the near future).  Taken together, Kennedy does not discount that during the 1984 campaign, the

Democratic party may officially turn to him to lead the fight against the Republicans and elect

their candidate president.  This would explain why he is convinced that none of the candidates

today have a real chance at defeating Reagan.

 

We await your instructions.

 

President of the committee             V. Chebrikov

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