August 25 - The Death of Samantha Smith

This Day in History: 25 August 2020

 

25 August 1985

 

35 years ago, today, Samantha Smith, the young 'ambassador' to the Soviet Union, died in a plane crash, aged 13. In late 1982, Smith had written a worrisome letter to the Soviet leader, Yuri Andropov. She expressed her fears of a possible nuclear war between the United States and Soviet Union. A few months later, Smith's letter was reprinted in Russia, and it was announced that Andropov was writing a response. In April 1983, she received his letter, and was assured that the Soviet Union did not want a nuclear war with the United States or any other country. Andropov closed the letter with an invitation to the Soviet Union, which Smith and her parents embarked upon in July.

 

Although Smith did not get to meet Andropov on her trip, she spoke to many people and groups in the country. Back in the United States, however, some people labelled her as the Soviet Union's pawn, and claimed that she was merely communist propaganda. Despite this, her enthusiasm and optimism charmed the American majority and millions of others around the world. During the next two years, Samantha became an unofficial US goodwill ambassador, and spoke to groups in the United States and many foreign nations. After Samantha and her father's plane crashed, her legacy still lived on through the Samantha Smith Foundation. Set up by her mother, the foundation's goal was to bring people from different nations and cultures together to share their experiences. The Soviet government responded to Samantha's death by issuing a stamp in her honour and naming a mountain after her.

 

Want to find out more about Samantha Smith's interactions with the Soviet Union? Click here for more information, or here for more about the Samantha Smith Foundation.