ABSTRACT
Shortly after Lenin’s funeral, the question of who would succeed him as chairman of the Council of the People’s Commissars was raised at a Politburo meeting. Trotsky was still in the Caucasus and could not take part in the discussion. During Lenin’s illness Kamenev had been the acting chairman-in effect, Lenin’s deputy-since Trotsky had earlier refused the post. Kamenev’s appointment as Lenin’s successor appeared certain, but Stalin objected, claiming that Kamenev’s ‘Jewish origin’ ruled him out as a Russian leader. ‘We must consider the peasant character of Russia’, said Stalin, adding that the Russian peasants, the great majority of the country, would resent having a Jew head their government.1
