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Corks & Coexistence. On his own, Bulganin has at times surprised Western diplomats by his uninhibited outspokenness. Once, when the other committeemen were out of town, he accepted a toast to the Soviet government: "I can drink to that. Tonight, I am the Soviet government." Bulganin's pet refrain since he started partygoing has been that the Soviet Union is determined to avoid war. "Down with war," he shouted at a recent reception. "I say that as commanding general of all the armed forces of the Soviet Union." Later, a champagne cork popped loudly, and Bulganin quickly added: "Let's use these instead of cannon." The cannon, however, are also still available.