An eerie electronic whistle whined through Moscow's huge Hall of Congresses, and suddenly the unmistakable bars of the Internationale floated through the hall. The music was transmitted from Luna X, a Soviet moon probe that had been launched a week before and only twelve hours earlier had become the first spacecraft to go into orbit around the moon. At the sound, tears welled in the eyes of Party Boss Leonid Brezhnev. Jumping to his feet, he led the 6,000 Soviet and foreign delegates in rhythmic applause.
On that note, the 23rd Communist Party Congress moved into its second and concluding...