Gorbachev's Charm Offensive

He invokes De Gaulle and hears tough human rights questions

The French daily Le Monde called it Operation Seduction. Officials in the government of French President Francois Mitterrand referred to it as a "charm offensive." In Washington, a Reagan Administration official huffily described the four-day visit to France last week as "more Gucci diplomacy."

Whatever it was called, Mikhail Gorbachev's first foray to the West since he became General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party last March was freighted with a variety of expectations. But in addition to the matters of policy raised in his travels, one important question for many Kremlinologists was whether Gorbachev would continue to display the skills...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!