ABSTRACT
Konstantin Chernenko's election as chairman of the Supreme Soviet Presidium, it was semiofficially disclosed that he also held the post of chairman of the Defense Council. Revealing his political allegiance, on 13 February 1984—the very day of Chernenko's election as general secretary—Chikin published an article in Sovetskaya Rossiya, praising Andropov in warm, almost personal terms. In the report of the event in the "Vremya" television program viewers could see Mikhail Gorbachev's improved rating; he occupied the official third place in the lineup, after Chernenko and Nikolay Tikhonov and in front of Ustinov. Chernenko's high profile in November was evident also in his 18 November interview given to the US National Broadcasting Company network. Grigory Romanov was well aware that Chernenko's seat would fall vacant, and if he was to compete successfully against Gorbachev, the defense minister's post would be a great hindrance.
