The connections of regular Soviets to the outside world blossomed with new leadership of Khrushchev and the optimism of Sputnik. With the end of colonialism there was a worldwide battle for hearts and minds. Into this opening the USA launched operation abundance to convince the average Soviet that their government was not doing enough for them with regards consumer goods. An open door goes both ways. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
This stamp issue features children’s drawings related to the world festivals of youth that the Soviets hosted. There is a quote from Khrushchev that stated that as long as he was President we are going to support genuine art. We are not going to give a Kopeck for the pictures of jackasses. The denomination of this stamp is 10 Kopecks. Hmm…
Todays stamp is issue A1202, a 10 Kopeck stamp issued by the Soviet Union on June 1st, 1960. It was a four stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents used.
Khrushchev sought more person to person contact with the outside world to soften the harsh militaristic image put forth by his predecessor Stalin. To that end, the World Festival of Youth that promoted Communism was brought for the first time to the Soviet Union in 1957. It attracted 34,000 participants from 130 countries. There was even a new magazine for America named “Soviet Life” that presented a positive view of life in the Soviet Union. The USA agreed to allow the printings of 30,000 per month, and there was a waiting list for subscriptions. And Americans thought only Soviets waited in line.
The USA was not defenseless when it came to the new open door. The USA knew the Soviets used a much greater percentage of their output for arms. Perhaps that could be adjusted if the average Soviet, especially the females, started demanding more consumer goods. Operation Abundance backed American National Exhibition in Moscow in 1959 showed off all manner of consumer goods available in the USA. To drive the point home, then Vice President Richard Nixon engaged in an impromptu televised “kitchen debate” with Khrushchev as to why Soviets did not yet have stuff like this. His answer was that such things were junky and wasteful but then did what was hoped and began allocating more resources to the production of consumer goods.
Modern Russia is still in the business of reaching out to the world’s youth though I am not sure what he is selling politically these days. In 2017 Russia hosted another World Festival of Youth in Sochi. It attracted fewer attendees than the 1957 one but more countries sent youth.
Well my drink is empty and I will contemplate the value of closed doors. Sure seems less wasteful. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.