Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev - biography.

Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev - biography. Soviet leader Birth February 3, 1931 Place of Privol'noye, Russia Birth Political Communist Party Official General secretary, Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Titles Terms 1985-1989 General secretary 1989-1991 Chairman of the Supreme Soviet Known for Initiating liberal policies in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, which led to the USSR's breakup, the end of the Cold War, the democratization of Eastern Europe, and the disintegration of Soviet and Eastern European Communism Winning the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize Milestones 1952 Became a full member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) while studying law at Moscow State University 1956 Became first party secretary of the Komsomol (Communist Youth League) for the city of Stavropol' 1978 Served as the Central Committee secretary responsible for agriculture, increasing his exposure to Soviet leaders 1980 Became the youngest full member of the Politburo, the Central Committee's policy-making body 1985 Assumed post of general secretary of the CPSU, leader of the Soviet Union 1986 Instituted policies of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) after the Chernobyl' nuclear accident highlighted the ineffective bureaucracy and unreliable official information February, 1989 Withdrew Soviet troops from Afghanistan March, 1989 Called for the first open elections since the foundation of the Soviet Union in 1922 August, 1991 Survived a coup attempt by Communist hardliners December, 1991 Resigned leadership of the Soviet Union Quote 'The guilt of Stalin and his immediate entourage before the Party and the people for the mass repressions and lawlessness they committed is enormous and unforgivable.' November 2, 1987, in a speech on the 70th anniversary of the Russian Revolution. Did You Gorbachev's first year as general secretary was noteworthy within the Soviet Union because of his unpopular policies to reduce alcohol Know consumption. Gorbachev was the first Soviet leader to resign from office. In 1989 Gorbachev was named Time magazine's Man of the Decade, after having been named Man of the Year in 1987. Despite winning the Nobel Peace Prize and achieving great popularity internationally, Gorbachev's popularity within the Soviet Union had greatly diminished by 1990 due to countrywide economic difficulties. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.