Gilbert Doctorow

Memoirs of a Russianist, Volume Ii Gilbert Doctorow

My email to cousin Danny Gasman, professor of history in New York. 8 July 1999 I left IREX 15 months ago. Maybe I'm slow in these matters but by the time I signed out there I had come to the conclusion that my colleagues in the Washington headquarters were likely enjoying second incomes from The Agency. And so I moved back to the relatively cleaner business of strong drinks. As managing director of United Distillers in Russia, I am Mr. Smirnoff, Mr. Johnnie Walker, etc. Very congenial company. Also very politicized business. During my lunchtime speech at the Davis (Russian Research) Center in Harvard a month ago, I was trying to make the point to the handful of economists who had not yet left for vacation that the alcoholic beverages industry is as valid a barometer of the Russian political scene as oil and gas. Fred Bergson, who must be well into his 80s and was once upon a time the dean of American economists specializing in the Soviet Union, seemed not to be buying into my message. However, he maintains a droll sense of humor and asked me at our introductory handshake whether I had learned anything during my stay at Harvard 25 years ago. I told him I had learned to tend bar at Harvard Student Agencies and that this serves me well in my new business functions. He seemed satisfied. Email from Danny Gasman, 14 July 1999 I meant to tell you that I laughed a lot when you told me about your lecture at Harvard. They deserve even heavier doses of the truth... You should keep a diary and publish it. It could be a new edition of "Radischev's Journey."