Ligachyov proved a seriously stabilizing influence on the USSR after Gorbachev was ousted in 1992 and has remained in office since. I don't like his politics but do respect his initiatives, the Global Fusion Power Project and New Space Race might never have begun if not for him. Handing over a rogue Saudi with WMDs to US authorities back in 2000 was not only unexpected but may have spared damage to one of our major cities (the incident is still classified and details elusive, but when CNN, Hannity, Dan Rather, and Fox news all agree on something...). He's only the second Secretary to have been born after the Revolution but he seems legitimately interested in peaceful proceedings and nuclear containment. I was especially fond of his quip to Clinton 45 after she laughed about his drinking with four different presidents, "Monarchs hand power to their children, oligarchs to their friends, but it was long ago that power rested with the people almost anywhere in the world. Only three families in this country have held power for as many decades, even then the other two tried for the White House. We are not a democracy, Madam President, but at least we are intellectually honest about the nature of power in our country".