Memoirs of a Russianist, Volume Ii: Russia in the Roaring 1990S

My email to cousin Danny Gasman, professor of history in New York. 8 July 1999I left IREX 15 months ago. Maybe I'm slow in these matters but by the time I signed out there I had come to the conclusion that my colleagues in the Washington headquarters were likely enjoying second incomes from The Agency. And so I moved back to the relatively cleaner business of strong drinks.

As managing director of United Distillers in Russia, I am Mr. Smirnoff, Mr. Johnnie Walker, etc. Very congenial company. Also very politicized business. During my lunchtime speech at the Davis (Russian Research) Center in Harvard a month ago, I was trying to make the point to the handful of economists who had not yet left for vacation that the alcoholic beverages industry is as valid a barometer of the Russian political scene as oil and gas. Fred Bergson, who must be well into his 80s and was once upon a time the dean of American economists specializing in the Soviet Union, seemed not to be buying into my message.

However, he maintains a droll sense of humor and asked me at our introductory handshake whether I had learned anything during my stay at Harvard 25 years ago.

I told him I had learned to tend bar at Harvard Student Agencies and that this serves me well in my new business functions.

He seemed satisfied. Email from Danny Gasman, 14 July 1999I meant to tell you that I laughed a lot when you told me about your lecture at Harvard.

They deserve even heavier doses of the truthYou should keep a diary and publish it.

It could be a new edition of "Radischev's Journey."