ABSTRACT
Maxim Litvinov immediately asked for “any kind of work,” but other than being allowed a brief radio address, his request was ignored. In late 1941, however, Stalin needed foreign help desperately, and to underscore his willingness to improve relations with the United States, he sent Litvinov to serve as the new Soviet ambassador in Washington. Richard C. Hottelet asked Litvinov what he thought of the international situation and sat back, prepared to hear the “usual polite evasions.” Litvinov probably did regret that the Soviet youth knew only Stalin and Stalinism, but he also was very close to burning his bridges with even Lenin, despite his sincere admiration of the man who had opened up new revolutionary horizons so many years ago. The end came on the night of 31 December 1951, when Litvinov was stricken with a heart attack and died almost immediately.
