Reader John C. responded to my post mentioning long-lived Soviet apparatchik Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan’s Talleyrand-like ability to survive regime change:

I studied Soviet politics back in the 60s at Michigan State under Alfred Meyer. He told us a classic joke about the longevity of Mikoyan, who survived all the purges flawlessly.
“A military coup has taken over the USSR. The new regime, under a junta of generals, has re-established the Orthodox church, renamed all the cities and geographical features back to their pre-Soviet state, etc.
“As the triumphal parade is going through St. Peter and Paul Square in Moscow, with the former Commie leaders in shackles being dragged along, pelted with offal, rotten fruit, et al., the new leader turns to his chief advisor, and asks, “Well, Anastas Ivanovich, what shall we do with these lousy scoundrels?”