On February 9, legend of the Soviet and Russian journalism Valentin Zorin celebrates his 85th birthday.
A talented political writer, observer and historian he came to work for the International broadcasting service of the USSR more than 60 years ago. Today Zorin continues to work for the Voice of Russia radio company in a legendary radio-house on Pyatnitskaya street in the center of Moscow. The black and white photos on the wall of his office captured the history of the international politics via his personal experience, his meetings with political leaders of the second half of the 20th century.
It won't be an exaggeration to say that Valentin Zorin was the first Soviet political observer and others came after him. It is really so. One of the first graduates of the Moscow Institute of the International Relations he made a brilliant career, working not only as a journalist but also as a historian. He published 15 books and thousands of articles. His thesis was translated into 7 languages. His books "Uncrowned kings of the US" and "Misters billions" are known not only in Russia but also abroad. He is Doctor of Historical Sciences and professor, one the founders of the US and Canada Institute, academician, laureate of numerous state awards both Soviet and Russian. He personally appreciates the Medal for Defense of Moscow.
In 1962, when Zorin was a reporter of the Soviet radio in the US, he witnessed the events of the Caribbean crisis, the confrontation between the US and the USSR which could lead to the nuclear catastrophe, Zorin recalls.
I was in Washington and could see the crisis up close. Now not everyone can imagine it but then the world was on the edge of the nuclear war. I think that Soviet leader Nikita Kruchyov went too far. The deployment of Soviet missiles on Cuba was taken by the US as a gun against temple of Washington. I remember how many of the US political elite were for the toughest measures including the military actions.
Valentine Zorin is one the most famous US experts in Russia. He actually "opened America" for many Soviet people. Zorin was happy to meet and interview many foreign leaders and politicians including Charles de Gaul, Indira Gandhi, the Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, Helmut Kohl, US presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Nixon, Ford, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton.
At the age of 85 Valentin Zorin does not even think about retirement, he regularly hosts his radio program on the listeners of the Voice of Russia in the US: "How it looks from Moscow". Looking back at his life Valentin Zorin says that despite all the difficulties he thanks starts for his fate.
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