Selected Speeches and Writings

Born into a large and poor Siberian peasant family, Konstantin Chernenko, the new leader of the Soviet Union, joined the Young Communist League when he was 15. He was a close adviser to President Brezhnev, and the top Party and Government jobs which he had held in Moscow over the period of 20 years prepared him for a smooth take-over of the leadership of his country. This selection of Konstantin Chernenko's Speeches and Writings, made during the years 1975 to 1984, including his acceptance speech on his election as General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, provides a wide-ranging introduction to the opinions and views of the new Soviet leader.