Brezhnev’s Shortening Span

My stock answer to the question, “Are we nearer to another war?” has always been that if another war is postulated, then we are indeed one day nearer it with every day that passes. Similarly, we may safely declare that Leonid Brezhnev’s remaining span of life and of office (probably, though not necessarily, the same thing) shortens by one day every 24 hours. It must be admitted that the span, so far, has been rather remarkable.

Brezhnev has been boss of the Soviet empire for 15 years, or nearly a quarter of the history of the Soviet state. Internally, his regime is a flop. It is even less able to feed its people today than under Khrushchev. Housing is deplorable, productivity is low.

BC

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Brian Crozier

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My stock answer to the question, “Are we nearer to another war?” has always been that if another war is postulated, then we are indeed one day nearer it with every day that passes. Similarly, we may safely declare that Leonid Brezhnev’s remaining span of life and of office (probably, though not necessarily, the same thing) shortens by one day every 24 hours. It must be admitted that the span, so far, has been rather remarkable.

Brezhnev has been boss of the Soviet empire for 15 years, or nearly a quarter of the history of the Soviet state. Internally, his regime is a flop. It is even less able to feed its people today than under Khrushchev. Housing is deplorable, productivity is low.