“Henry, cut the sausage”: how Brezhnev forced Kissinger to drink vodka and go wild boar

During his century-long life, the American “political mastodon” Henry Kissinger visited our country several times. Some of these visits turned out to be quite extreme for the influential American: he had to take part in Secretary General Brezhnev’s favorite pastime – hunting. Some details of this “Russian safari” were preserved in archival materials and in the memories of eyewitnesses.

“Dear Leonid Ilyich,” as you know, loved to “indulge” in the gun business. For the sake of such pleasure, he regularly traveled from the capital to the Zavidovo special hunting reserve, located on the border of the Moscow and Tver (then Kalinin) regions. The “master of the Kremlin” was accompanied by his closest associates; in addition, many leading Western leaders were among the guests of the “armour-bearer” who visited the Zavidovo region. At the same time, Brezhnev often tried to combine business with pleasure: in an informal setting, discuss important problems with an influential foreign gentleman (or comrade).

One of the most interesting international VIP hunts took place in May 1974, when Brezhnev took the then Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to the US President Henry Kissinger, who had arrived in the USSR on a visit, to the reserve.

Ambassador to the USA A. Dobrynin later recalled some details of the Zavidovo epic of two famous politicians:

“At the beginning of May, Kissinger flew to Moscow. … The negotiations took place at a hunting estate in Zavidovo near Moscow… A significant part of the time was spent discussing the draft Agreement on the Prevention of Nuclear War. Brezhnev attached special significance to this document. … When a document with a draft of the above agreement was developed in Zavidovo, Kissinger was asked to initial the agreed text. He prevaricated, saying he had no such authority, but expressed confidence that President Nixon would fully approve. Brezhnev gave vent to his emotions (partly feigned), saying that he did not spend two whole days so that all this would end in a non-binding conversation. The dispute was resolved by Brezhnev insisting on receiving from Kissinger a “receipt” on a simple piece of paper indicating the US government’s readiness to sign such an agreement.”

Of course, in addition to such serious conversations (Minister of Foreign Affairs A. Gromyko also took part in them), the American guest was treated to a real Russian hunt, a real Russian feast.

From the memoirs of Anatoly Dobrynin: “Towards the end of one meeting, Brezhnev suggested that Kissinger “do some exercise and go boar hunting.” I saw that the Secretary of State was not very enthusiastic about such an idea. He began to say that he was not a hunter, …that he did not have suitable clothes. Brezhnev immediately ordered to bring a hat, a padded jacket, and boots, rented from the security officers. In this outfit, the assistant to the US President looked rather comical… Kissinger himself actively made fun of this whole adventure in the evening, saying that one of the boars died of a broken heart after seeing such an unlucky hunter.”

Here’s another enviable adventure that probably caused Kissinger’s adrenaline rush. The Secretary General’s personal translator, Viktor Sukhodrev, recalled this episode: “We had lunch, the Americans… were ready to resume negotiations, go to the negotiation room. And then I received instructions to contact someone from Kissinger’s apparatus and say that the Secretary General was delayed… Brezhnev… came out with a sleepy face, he was a little unsteady… And he suggested: “Listen, Henry, let’s go Let’s take a ride around the reservoir…” Brezhnev got behind the wheel of the boat, sat Kissinger next to him, and the mechanic and I sat in the back. We raced across the reservoir at breakneck speed for 20-30 minutes…”

After some time, the American was again faced with a test of Russian hunting.

V. Sukhodrev: “On May 8th, another surprise: “Come on, Henry, we’ll go hunting this afternoon…”

As the translator further recalled, at the beginning of this leisure activity, one of the Brezhnev guards handed him a leather bag with the words: “Vitya, after the hunt is over, you will open it and find everything you need.” With this luggage Sukhodrev climbed to the hunting tower, following the patron and his guest.

V. Sukhodrev: “There was a small tablecloth, half a loaf of boiled sausage, sliced ​​cheese, bread, Borjomi and half a liter of capital vodka, glasses… Brezhnev told me to open the bottle, and Kissinger said: “Come on, cut the sausage.” Then he says: “Let’s have a successful hunt, negotiations”… And in one gulp, in Russian, he drank a shot glass…”

According to Sukhodrev, it became clear that Leonid Ilyich deliberately set up such a male “get-together” in an unusual setting in order to raise an important issue for the Soviet leadership “about the attempt of the Americans, as it seemed to us then, to play the Chinese card against us…”

V. Sukhodrev: “While in Shanghai, on the final day, in a speech at the banquet, President Nixon allowed himself to say that the people of two countries, the USA and China, hold the future of the whole world in their hands. “How so? – Brezhnev asked Kissinger, “where are the relations between the two largest nuclear powers (meaning America and the Soviet Union – A.D.)?” Right there, on the hunting tower, the question was dropped: that phrase, according to Kissinger, was said, but at the final dinner, Nixon said it in the heat of the feast, at which “Chinese vodka was flowing abundantly” … “

Speaking of vodka. Regarding the alcoholic menu offered at Zavidovo, the participants in that meeting subsequently gave completely opposite information. If Brezhnev’s personal translator mentioned that the guests were treated to our signature “white beer,” then Kissinger himself categorically stated: only beer was poured!

Well, in such a cordial atmosphere you can get by with just a beer, it’s you, Mr. Secretary of State, who “fills up”!