Gorbachev's Gamble The 19th All-union Party Conference

Introduction -- Prelude to the Conference: The Reluctant Acceptance -- Gorbachev’s Opponents -- Electing the Delegates: The Party Apparatus Versus the People -- Gorbachev’s Proposals for Reform -- The Debate -- The Resolutions -- Interim Conclusions -- The Aftermath -- Setting the Stage for the Conference May 1988 -- A Discussion of the Delegate Election Procedure -- Theses of the CPSU Central Committee Plenum, 23 May -- Opening Day 28 June 1988 -- Gorbachev’s Opening Speech -- V. Bakatin Begins the Debate -- L. Abalkin Addresses the Delegates -- Delegates Hand-Clap V. Belyaninov Off the Rostrum -- A. Masaliyev Criticizes Press and Reform -- G. Kolbin Urges Party Restructuring -- The Second Day 29 June 1988 -- Speakers and Proceedings Listed -- The Credentials Commission Report -- V. Kalashnikov Criticizes Progress -- V. Karpov Denounces Glasnost’ -- On Reform: The Ulyanov-Gorbachev Exchange -- Armenia’s Arutyunyan Proposes Interethnic Relations -- Y. Bondarev Attacks Press -- V. Kabaidze Censures Industry and the Economy -- B. Pugo Suggests Ethnic Reform -- Gorbachev Clarifies Speaking Procedures -- Delegate Postnikov’s Exchange with Gorbachev -- F. Popov Defends Party Apparatus -- G. Arbatov Proposes Socialist Competition, Responds to Abalkin -- B. V. Kachura Calls for Legislation Supporting Democratization -- I. K. Polozkov Blames Ministries for Lagging Economy -- Gorbachev Talks, Walks with Delegates -- The Third Day 30 June 1988 -- Gorbachev’s Second Speech: On Political Reform -- Duration of the Conference “Impossible” to Judge -- V. Melnikov Speaks for Gromyko’s Removal -- D. Patiashvili Comments on Leadership -- The “Bribe” Issue -- R. N. Nishanov Warns Against Demagoguery -- IZVESTIYA’s Laptev Champions Glasnost’ -- Gorbachev Clarifies Conference Procedures -- G. Borovik Attacks Nationalism -- G. Zagaynov Proposes Economic Accountability -- Gorbachev Interrupts Delegate Nizhelskiy -- A. Vezirov Urges Ethnic Ministry -- Closing Day 1 July 1988 -- S. Grossu Cautions Against Party Erosion -- The Yeltsin-Ligachev Exchange -- Delegates React to Yeltsin’s Address -- V. Volkov Defends Yeltsin -- PRAVDA’S Afanasyev Speaks for the Press -- A. A. Melnikov Supports Publication of Party Standings -- ZNAMYA’S Baklanov Asks for a Law on the Press -- General Gromov Backs Troops in Afghanistan -- TASS Report on Closing-Day Activities -- Gorbachev’s Concluding Speech: An Assessment of Conference Activities -- The Conference Resolutions -- Post-Conference Discussion, Evaluation, and Effects July—October 1988 -- Politburo Discusses Conference Decisions, 4 July -- PRAVDA 4 July Editorial on the Conference -- CPSU Central Committee Plenum Discusses the Conference Resolutions, 29 July–1 August -- Shevardnadze Speaks on Foreign Policy, 25 July -- Ligachev’s Gorkiy Speech: A Response to Shevardnadze, 5 August -- Yakovlev Responds to Ligachev, 10 and 12 August -- The Conservative Offensive: Chebrikov on the KGB -- Rumors of Forthcoming Personnel Changes, 12 and 29 September -- Decisions of the CPSU Central Committee 30 September Plenum -- The USSR Supreme Soviet 1 October Session -- The RSFSR Supreme Soviet 3 October Session