ABSTRACT
The election of Gorbachev was not a foregone conclusion. There were two groups in the Politburo. A key role was played by Andrei Gromyko, the leader of the oldies. He had discussions with Gorbachev, the leading youngster. The other possible candidate was Viktor Grishin. According to formal Politburo rules, Volodymyr Shcherbytsky should have been present and voted. The upcoming 1st Congress of Peoples Deputies (CPD) involved multi-candidate elections. A huge number of staff from the Central Committee (CC) apparatus began moving to the new USSR Supreme Soviet apparatus. At a Politburo session in April 1985 devoted to combating alcoholism, Gorbachev waxed eloquent about the evils of booze and its impact on future generations. In June 1985, Gorbachev proposed that Gromyko move into the vacant position of President. Nikolai Ryzhkov reported on the state of the economy to the Politburo in April 1987. Chernobyl ended any belief in the socio-economic acceleration of the country.
