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Event: Resignation of Nikolai Ryzhkov (2006)
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A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The Resignation - December 2006
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The Resignation - December 2006
The Soviet Union had weathered the worst war in human history, the unraveling of communism, and the rise of militant Islamism. Through miracles, surprisingly stable leadership, and a nation full of new ideas and innovations inspired by the international collaboration of Americans, Soviets and Chinese together, it had endured long past anybody thought possible. Nikolai Ryzhkov was one of the men responsible for the longevity of the Soviet Union. Having taken power in 1980, the man had brought Russia, and her union to new heights in the international community, and had helped establish the Tripolar World that grew ever closer towards "mutual-pole" communication, trust and hope. However, the man was feeling the stresses of old age slowly eat away at his body. In 2005, he had been required to undergo surgery to take care of a peptic ulcer, and had suffered a heart-attack in May 2006.
As a result, the General Secretary felt that now, perhaps, was the time to put in the end of his time as leader of the Soviet Union. For 26 years, he'd given what he thought was his best to the motherland, and it had done well for itself as a result. On December 18, 2006, appearing before the Politburo and the Supreme Soviet, Ryzhkov announced his resignation.
"A visionary, a man of action, the man whom brought the computer to Russia." is often used to describe Steven Jobs, the American expatriate whom found a life in the Soviet Union making a new generation of personal computers to compete with his brain-child, Apple Computer, back in the U.S.
Since he moved to Russia in 1985, he had become increasingly involved in the Russian system. Where as at first, he showed nearly no interest, he grew more and more involved in local affairs, and eventually became one of the most influential men in Krasnodar, the city where he built the headquarters of NeXT Computer Company. By 2006, he still ran NeXT on a day-to-day basis, and showed no signs of slowing down. His name began to spread through the rumour mills of the Southern regions of the Russian SFSR as a possible candidate for the position of General Secretary. He was one of the most liberal-minded capitalists in the Soviet Union, and had good will from most of those whom lived anywhere near Krasnodar as all parts of the NeXT computer repetoire were made domestically-- no outsourcing necessary. And his machines were cheap as well, leading to NeXT absolutely crushing all other market competitors into bonemeal.
At first, nobody took his candidacy seriously-- he was an American, first of all. Not a Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, or what have you. Secondly, he wasn't a member of the Communist Party. While known to harbor sympathies towards the left, he was a registered member of the Soviet Liberal Democratic Alliance, a group of moderate leftists whom did not find communism a palatable environment to develop the country in. This almost immediately turned more orthodox members of the Politburo against him-- he was the antithema of Lenin's revolution, why pick him?
However, younger members of the Politburo, primarily motivated by the winds of change that kept blowing through the world, making laps as they unleashed new leaders, new ideologies, new revolutions on nations, wanted to see how far they could take it. Jobs' name began to appear more and more in publications and speeches, before the man, whom had kept quiet, had cameras and microphones put in front of him long enough to speak.
And so Jobs spoke. He spoke plainly about how the Soviet Union needed people to run it whom knew economics, whom knew technology, whom knew innovation. He stated plainly that the current men in power were agrarian types, raised on the system of apparatchik and collectivization--Stalinist stuff. He envisioned a USSR that balanced the institution of something like the NEP, and mixed it with state economics. He would appoint people capable of doing that-- he would focus his efforts on technological innovation. Despite the friendship between the three superpowers, they still remained fierce technological rivals. America was aiming to put a man on Mars by 2010, China was aiming to reach faster than light by 2050, and the Soviet Union was mostly sitting on her hands, doing little. Jobs had ideas for innovation. Militarily, economically, and culturally. He wanted to reinvent the New Soviet Man.
His words piqued the interest of some in the pan-Soviet nationalist groupings whom had initially opposed him. If an American Soviet wanted to lead the revolution, what harm could he do? He spoke Russian, had lived in the USSR for 30 years, and had a Russian wife, and a Russian family.
And so, it was with that, on December 30, 2006, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union elected Steven Paul Jobs as the next General Secretary of the Soviet Union. The Digital Revolution's most famous pioneer, was now the leader of one of the world's superpowers.
As a result, the General Secretary felt that now, perhaps, was the time to put in the end of his time as leader of the Soviet Union. For 26 years, he'd given what he thought was his best to the motherland, and it had done well for itself as a result. On December 18, 2006, appearing before the Politburo and the Supreme Soviet, Ryzhkov announced his resignation.
"Comrades, workers, fellow members of the Politburo. The duty of a man of communism is never an easy one. To look out for the people against reaction and imperialism is a job that never ends, from the day we are born, to the day we die. In the 26 years I have served as your leader, we have overseen innovation after innovation. The personal computer, which seemed merely a dream under the rule of Comrade Zhukov and Comrade Kosygin, is now in the home of every Soviet family. The television, radio and MP3 player are now common sights on the streets of Moscow. Communism and Capitalism have set down the guns of war, and have picked up the butter of peace, and are sharing bread at the table of diplomacy. Militant Islam has been buried beneath the boots of not just valiant Soviet soldiers, but our allies in both Beijing, and Washington. As peace has settled down, and serenity returns; I feel that now is the best time to say this.
I hereby announce my resignation as General Secretary of the Soviet Union, and Chairman of the Presidium. My resignation will formally take effect on the 1st of January, 2007-- and at which time, I shall retire. These last 26 years have been some of the best of my life, and all I did, I did because I thought it best for the Soviet Union. And now, I may finally rest, and recuperate my health that has suffered for so long. My fellow revolutionary comrades, from those of foreign birth whom came in the search of socialism's promises, to those born and raised in the fields, factories and skies-- may the fruits of our Revolution never end for you. And may our Union remain together, unbreakable, and sovereign. Thank you."
- Nikolai Ryzhkov's resignation speech; 18 December 2006
The resignation of Ryzhkov lead to a lot of confusion. The front page of the Pravda on 19 December was the picture of Ryzhkov with the headline "GENERAL SECRETARY TO RETIRE; WHOM IS SUCCESSOR?"-- many names began to make appearances in rumour mills, and on the floor of the Politburo. Names of men included men like Gennady Zyuganov, leader of a more hardline faction of the Communist Party; Alexander Rutskoy, leader of a more military-oriented faction of the All-Russian Democratic Party; Vladimir Putin, the director of the KGB; and even some more less known candidates whom were famous for other reasons.I hereby announce my resignation as General Secretary of the Soviet Union, and Chairman of the Presidium. My resignation will formally take effect on the 1st of January, 2007-- and at which time, I shall retire. These last 26 years have been some of the best of my life, and all I did, I did because I thought it best for the Soviet Union. And now, I may finally rest, and recuperate my health that has suffered for so long. My fellow revolutionary comrades, from those of foreign birth whom came in the search of socialism's promises, to those born and raised in the fields, factories and skies-- may the fruits of our Revolution never end for you. And may our Union remain together, unbreakable, and sovereign. Thank you."
- Nikolai Ryzhkov's resignation speech; 18 December 2006
Since he moved to Russia in 1985, he had become increasingly involved in the Russian system. Where as at first, he showed nearly no interest, he grew more and more involved in local affairs, and eventually became one of the most influential men in Krasnodar, the city where he built the headquarters of NeXT Computer Company. By 2006, he still ran NeXT on a day-to-day basis, and showed no signs of slowing down. His name began to spread through the rumour mills of the Southern regions of the Russian SFSR as a possible candidate for the position of General Secretary. He was one of the most liberal-minded capitalists in the Soviet Union, and had good will from most of those whom lived anywhere near Krasnodar as all parts of the NeXT computer repetoire were made domestically-- no outsourcing necessary. And his machines were cheap as well, leading to NeXT absolutely crushing all other market competitors into bonemeal.
At first, nobody took his candidacy seriously-- he was an American, first of all. Not a Russian, Ukrainian, Georgian, or what have you. Secondly, he wasn't a member of the Communist Party. While known to harbor sympathies towards the left, he was a registered member of the Soviet Liberal Democratic Alliance, a group of moderate leftists whom did not find communism a palatable environment to develop the country in. This almost immediately turned more orthodox members of the Politburo against him-- he was the antithema of Lenin's revolution, why pick him?
However, younger members of the Politburo, primarily motivated by the winds of change that kept blowing through the world, making laps as they unleashed new leaders, new ideologies, new revolutions on nations, wanted to see how far they could take it. Jobs' name began to appear more and more in publications and speeches, before the man, whom had kept quiet, had cameras and microphones put in front of him long enough to speak.
And so Jobs spoke. He spoke plainly about how the Soviet Union needed people to run it whom knew economics, whom knew technology, whom knew innovation. He stated plainly that the current men in power were agrarian types, raised on the system of apparatchik and collectivization--Stalinist stuff. He envisioned a USSR that balanced the institution of something like the NEP, and mixed it with state economics. He would appoint people capable of doing that-- he would focus his efforts on technological innovation. Despite the friendship between the three superpowers, they still remained fierce technological rivals. America was aiming to put a man on Mars by 2010, China was aiming to reach faster than light by 2050, and the Soviet Union was mostly sitting on her hands, doing little. Jobs had ideas for innovation. Militarily, economically, and culturally. He wanted to reinvent the New Soviet Man.
His words piqued the interest of some in the pan-Soviet nationalist groupings whom had initially opposed him. If an American Soviet wanted to lead the revolution, what harm could he do? He spoke Russian, had lived in the USSR for 30 years, and had a Russian wife, and a Russian family.
And so, it was with that, on December 30, 2006, the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union elected Steven Paul Jobs as the next General Secretary of the Soviet Union. The Digital Revolution's most famous pioneer, was now the leader of one of the world's superpowers.
- Asami
- Word Count: 1.3k