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Nikolai Tikhonov

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This article is about the Soviet politician. For the writer, seeNikolai Tikhonov (writer).For the cosmonaut, seeNikolai Tikhonov (cosmonaut).

In this name that followsEastern Slavic naming customs,thepatronymicisAleksandrovichand thefamily nameisTikhonov.
Nikolai Tikhonov
Николай Тихонов
9thChairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union
In office
23 October 1980 – 27 September 1985
First DeputiesIvan Arkhipov
Heydar Aliyev
Andrei Gromyko
Preceded byAlexei Kosygin
Succeeded byNikolai Ryzhkov
First Deputy Chairmanof theCouncil of Ministers of the Soviet Union
In office
2 September 1976 – 23 October 1980
PremierAlexei Kosygin
Preceded byDmitry Polyansky
Succeeded byIvan Arkhipov
Deputy Chairmanof the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union
In office
2 October 1965 – 2 September 1976
PremierAlexei Kosygin
Deputy Chairman of theState Economic Commission on Current Planning
In office
1963–1965
LeaderPyotr Lomako
Full member of the25th,26th,27thPolitburo
In office
27 November 1979 – 15 October 1985
Candidate member of the 25thPolitburo
In office
27 November 1978 – 27 November 1979
Full member of the23rd,24th,25th,26th,27thCentral Committee
In office
1966–1989
Candidate member of the 22nd Central Committee
In office
1961–1966
Personal details
Born(1905-05-14)14 May 1905
Kharkiv,Kharkov Governorate,Russian Empire
Died1 June 1997(1997-06-01)(aged 92)
Moscow,Russia
Resting placeNovodevichy Cemetery,Moscow
CitizenshipSovietandRussian
NationalityRussian
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union(1940–1989)
Alma materDnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute
ProfessionMetallurgist

Nikolai Aleksandrovich Tikhonov(Russian:Николай Александрович Тихонов;Ukrainian:Микола Олександрович Тихонов;14 May [O.S.1 May] 1905 – 1 June 1997) was aSovietRussian-Ukrainianstatesman during theCold War.He served asChairmanof theCouncil of Ministersfrom 1980 to 1985, and as aFirst Deputy Chairmanof the Council of Ministers, literally First Vice Premier, from 1976 to 1980. Tikhonov was responsible for the cultural and economic administration of the Soviet Union during the lateera of stagnation.He was replaced as Chairman of the Council of Ministers in 1985 byNikolai Ryzhkov.In the same year, he lost his seat in thePolitburo;however, he retained his seat in theCentral Committeeuntil 1989.

He was born in the city ofKharkivin 1905 to a Russian-Ukrainianworking-classfamily; he graduated in the 1920s and started working in the 1930s. Tikhonov began his political career in local industry, and worked his way up the hierarchy of Soviet industrial ministries. He was appointed deputy chairman of theGosplanin 1963. AfterAlexei Kosygin's resignation Tikhonov was voted into office as Chairman of the Council of Ministers. In this position, he refrained from taking effective measures to reform theSoviet economy,a need which was strongly evidenced during the early–mid-1980s. He retired from active politics in 1989 as apensioner.Tikhonov died on 1 June 1997.

Early life and career

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Tikhonov was born in the Ukrainian city ofKharkivon 14 May [O.S.1 May] 1905 to aRussian-Ukrainianworking-classfamily; he graduated from theSt. Catherine Institute of Communicationsin 1924. Tikhonov worked as an assistant engineer from 1924 to 1926. Four years later, in 1930, Tikhonov graduated as anengineer,earning a degree from theDnipropetrovsk Metallurgical Institute.From 1930 to 1941, Tikhonov worked as an engineer at the Lenin Metallurgical Plant inDnipropetrovsk;he was appointed as the plant's Chief Engineer in January 1941.[1]

It was during his stay in Dnipropetrovsk that he metLeonid Brezhnev,a futureleader of the Soviet Union.[2]Tikhonov joined theAll-Union Communist Party (bolsheviks)in 1940 and by the end of the decade, had secured a job as a plant director.[3]As a director, Tikhonov was able to show off his organisational skills; under his leadership the plant became the first in the region to reopen a hospital, organising dining rooms and restoring social clubs for workers caught up in the aftermath of theEastern Front.[1]Tikhonov was quickly promoted, and started working for theMinistry of Ferrous Metallurgyin the 1950s. Between 1955 and 1960 Tikhonov became a Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Ferrous Metallurgy, a member (and later chairman) of theScientific Councilof theCouncil of Ministers,and finally, a deputy chairman of theState Planning Committee.[4]At the22nd Party CongressTikhonov was elected to theCentral Committeeas a non-voting member.[1]At the23rd party congressin 1966, Tikhonov was elected a member of the Central Committee.[1]Tikhonov was awarded theHero of Socialist Labouraward for his first time.[3]

During his tenure asDeputy Premier,Tikhonov was in charge of metallurgy and chemical industry; his responsibilities did not change with his ascension to the post ofFirst Deputy Premier.However, he did provide a general coordination forheavy industry.[5]WhenAlexei Kosygin,the Premier, was on sick leave in 1976 Brezhnev took advantage of his illness by appointing Tikhonov to the office of First Deputy Premier. As First Deputy Premier, Tikhonov was able to reduce Kosygin to a standby figure.[2]Tikhonov was, however, one of the few who got along with both Brezhnev and Kosygin, both of them liked his candor and honesty.[6]In 1978 Tikhonov waselected a candidate member of the Politburoand was made a voting member of the Politburo in 1979.[7]Tikhonov was not informed of the decision tointervene in Afghanistan;the reason being his bad relationship withDmitriy Ustinov,the Minister of Defense at the time.[6]

Premiership (1980–1985)

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See also:Tikhonov's FirstandSecond Government

Appointment and the 26th Congress

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WhenAlexei Kosyginresigned in 1980, Tikhonov, at the age of 75, was elected the newChairmanof theCouncil of Ministers.[8]During his five-year term as premier Tikhonov refrained from reforming theSoviet economy,despite all statistics from that time showing theeconomy was stagnating.[1]Tikhonov presented theEleventh Five-Year Plan(1981–85) at the26th Party Congress,and told the delegates that the state would allocate nine millionroublesfor mothers who were seekingparental leave.[9]In his presentation to the congress, Tikhonov admitted thatSoviet agriculturewas not producing enoughgrain.Tikhonov called for an improvement inSoviet–US relations,but dismissed all speculations that the Soviet economy was in any sort of crisis.[10]Despite this, Tikhonov admitted to economic "shortcomings" and acknowledged the ongoing "food problem"; other topics for discussion were the need to save energy resources, boost labour productivity and to improve the quality of Soviet produced goods.[11]Early in his term, in January 1981, Tikhonov admitted that the government'sdemographic policywas one of the weakest areas ofhis cabinet.[12]In reality, however, he along with many others, were beginning to worry that not enough Russians were being born. TheEra of Stagnationreduced thebirth rate,and increased thedeath rateof the Russian population.[12]

Under Andropov and Chernenko

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Leonid Brezhnevawarded Tikhonov theHero of Socialist Labour,after being advised to do so byKonstantin Chernenko.UponBrezhnev's deathin 1982, Tikhonov supported Chernenko's candidacy for theGeneral Secretaryship.Chernenko lost the vote, andYuri Andropovbecame General Secretary.[13]It has been suggested that Andropov had plans of replacing Tikhonov withHeydar Aliyev.Historian William A. Clark noted how Aliyev, a former head of the AzerbaijaniKGB,was appointed to theFirst Deputy Premiershipof the Council of Ministers without Tikhonov's consent; however, Andropov's death in 1984 left Tikhonov secure in his office.[14]Some Western analysts speculated that the appointment ofAndrei Gromykoto the First Deputy Premiership, again without Tikhonov's consent, was a sign that his position within the Soviet hierarchy was weakened. Tikhonov was on a state visit toYugoslaviawhen Gromyko was appointed to the First Deputy Premiership.[15]

With his health failing, Andropov used his spare times to write speeches to theCentral Committee.In one of these speeches Andropov told the Central Committee thatMikhail Gorbachev,and not Chernenko, would succeed him upon his death. His speech was not read out to the Central Committee plenum because of an anti-Gorbachevtroikaconsisting of Chernenko,Dmitriy Ustinovand Tikhonov. During Andropov's last days, Tikhonov presided over thePolitburosessions, headed the 1984 Soviet delegation to theCouncil for Mutual Economic Assistanceconference inEast Berlin,conductedbilateral relationswith theEastern Blocstates, and hosted thePrime Minister of Finlandwhen he visited the Soviet Union. In short, in-between Andropov's last days and Chernenko's rise to power, Tikhonov was the dominant driving figure of the Soviet Union. However, Tikhonov peacefully stepped away, and supported Chernenko's candidacy for General Secretary.[16][additional citation(s) needed]When Chernenko died in 1985, Tikhonov tried, but failed, to find a contender to Gorbachev's candidacy to the General Secretaryship.[17]

Gorbachev and resignation

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Upon Gorbachev's ascension to power, Tikhonov was elected chairman of the newly established Commission on Improvements of the Management System. The title of chairman was largely honorary, and itsde factohead was its deputy chairman,Nikolai Ryzhkov.[18]On 23 May 1985 Tikhonov presented his development plan for 1985 to 1990, and up until 2000, the plan was criticised by co-workers, and Gorbachev told his colleagues that Tikhonov was "ill-equipped" for the Premiership. Tikhonov forecast estimated growth of 20–22 percent in Soviet national income, an increase of 21–24 percent in industrial growth and doublingSoviet agricultureoutput by 2000.[3]As part of Gorbachev's plan of removing, and replacing, the mostconservativemembers[19]of the Politburo, Tikhonov was compelled to retire.[20]Ryzhkov succeeded Tikhonov in office on 27 September 1985.[20]His resignation was made official at a Central Committee plenum in September 1985.[21]It is noteworthy that by the time of his resignation, Tikhonov was the oldest member of theSoviet leadership.[22]Tikhonov was active in Soviet politics, albeit in a much less prominent role, until 1989 when he lost his seat in the Central Committee.[1]

Later life and death

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After his forcedresignationfrom active politics in 1989, Tikhonov wrote a letter toMikhail Gorbachevwhich stated that he regretted supporting his election to the General Secretaryship.[3]This view was strengthened when theCommunist Partywas banned in theSoviet Union.After his retirement, he lived the rest of his life in seclusion at hisdacha.As one of his friends noted, he lived as "a hermit" and never showed himself in public[3]and that his later life was very difficult as he had no children and because his wife had died.[3]Prior to thedissolution of the Soviet UnionTikhonov worked as a State Advisor to the Supreme Soviet.[23]Tikhonov died on 1 June 1997 and was buried at theNovodevichy Cemetery.[24]Shortly before his death, he wrote a letter addressed to Yeltsin: "I ask you to bury me at public expense, since I have no financial savings."[25]

As he received a three-room apartment when he was deputy chairman, he lived in it with his wife until his death. They had no children, and they lived very modestly. As a former prime minister, he was left with a dacha, private security, and a personal pension. Tikhonov did not have any savings. When he worked in the government, he and his wife spent all their money on the purchase of buses, which they donated to pioneer camps and schools. After the liquidation of the USSR, the personal pension was canceled, and Tikhonov received a regular old-age pension. And the guys from the security were buying him fruits from their own salaries.[6]

According toTimemagazine, Tikhonov was a "tried and tested yes man" who had very little experience in foreign and defence policy when he took over the Premiership fromAlexei Kosygin.[26]This view is dubious, and not shared by Brezhnev - who referred to Tikhonov as his 'Greatest Critic'.[27]A bust dedicated to Tikhonov was erected inKharkiv,his birthplace,[28]but was dismantled following theRussian invasion of Ukraine.[29]Tikhonov, when compared to other Soviet premiers, has made little impact on post-Soviet culture and his legacy is remembered by few today.[6]During his lifetime Tikhonov was awarded several awards; he was awarded theOrder of Leninnine times, theOrder of the Red Banner of Labourtwice, one Red Star, twoStalin Prizesand several medals and foreign awards.[1]

Decorations and awards

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References

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  1. ^abcdefgСимоновым, A.A.Тихонов, Николай Александрович[Tikhonov, Nikolai Aleksandrovich] (in Russian). warheroes.ru.Retrieved5 November2010.
  2. ^abZemtsov 1989,p. 119.
  3. ^abcdefТихонов, Николай Александрович(in Russian). proekt-wms.narod.ru.Retrieved5 November2010.
  4. ^Zemtsov 1989,p. 70.
  5. ^Hough, Jerry F.; Fainsod, Merle (1979).How the Soviet Union is Governed.Harvard University Press.p. 382.ISBN978-0-674-41030-5.
  6. ^abcdОхранники скидывались на фрукты бывшему премьеру.Kommersant(in Russian). 9 May 2000.Retrieved5 November2010.
  7. ^Brown, Archie(1997).The Gorbachev factor.Oxford University Press.p.332.ISBN978-0-19-288052-9.
  8. ^Ploss, Sidney (2010).The Roots of Perestroika: The Soviet Breakdown in Historical Context.McFarland & Company.p. 132.ISBN978-0-7864-4486-1.
  9. ^Lahusen, Thomas; Solomon, Peter H. (2008).What is Soviet now?: identities, legacies, memories.LIT Verlag Münster. p. 206.ISBN978-3-82580640-8.
  10. ^"Tikhonov Bids for U.S. Trade".Reading Eagle.27 February 1981.
  11. ^"Soviets put squeeze on U.S. for summit".Tri-City Herald.27 February 1981.
  12. ^abService, Robert(2009).History of Modern Russia: From Tsarism to the Twenty-first Century.Penguin Books Ltd.p. 422.ISBN978-0-67403493-8.[permanent dead link]
  13. ^Zemtsov 1989,p. 131.
  14. ^Clark, William A. (1993).Crime and punishment in Soviet officialdom: combating corruption in the political elite, 1965–1990.M. E. Sharpe.p. 157.ISBN1-56324-055-6.
  15. ^"Gromyko's promotion may be premier's loss".Deseret News.25 March 1983.
  16. ^Zemtsov 1989,p. 146.
  17. ^Brown, Archie(2009).The Rise & Fall of Communism.Bodley Head.pp. 482–83.ISBN978-1-84595-067-5.
  18. ^Gaidar, Yegor(1999).Days of defeat and victory.University of Washington Press.p. 26.ISBN0-295-97823-6.
  19. ^Brown, Archie(2009).The Rise & Fall of Communism.Bodley Head.p. 488.ISBN978-1-84595-067-5.
  20. ^abService, Robert(2009).History of Modern Russia: From Tsarism to the Twenty-first Century.Penguin Books Ltd.p. 439.ISBN978-0-14-103797-4.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^Haghayeghi, Mehrdad (1996).Islam and Politics in Central Asia.Palgrave Macmillan.p. 46.ISBN0-312-16488-2.
  22. ^Zwass, Adam (1989).The Council for Mutual Economic Assistance: the thorny path from political to economic integration.M. E. Sharpe.p. 152.ISBN978-0-87332-496-0.
  23. ^Биографии.Forbes.ru(in Russian). 24 September 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2010.Retrieved21 November2010.
  24. ^Тихонов, Николай Александрович(in Russian). warheroes.ru.Retrieved5 November2010.
  25. ^"Министр СССР: о реформах Брежнев говорил —" не дергайте людей, дайте людям отдохнуть "".ТАСС.Retrieved2021-03-30.
  26. ^"Soviet Union: And Then There Was One".Time.3 November 1980. Archived fromthe originalon November 25, 2010.Retrieved21 January2011.
  27. ^""Брежнев называл Тихонова" мой критик """.Коммерсантъ(in Russian). 2011-08-22.Retrieved2024-04-29.
  28. ^Тихонов, Николай Александрович(in Russian). warheroes.ru.Retrieved5 November2010.
  29. ^В Харькове демонтировали памятник бывшему главе правительства СССР(in Russian). 2day.kh.ua. 6 January 2023.Retrieved27 March2023.

Sources

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Political offices
Preceded by Chairmanof theCouncil of Ministers
1980–1985 		Succeeded by
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