LENIN’S WIDOW GETS THE MESSAGE

I read the review of Robert Conquest’s “Stalin and the Kirov Murder” (Book Review, April 2) just after I had finished reading another book on the Soviet Union and Stalin’s purges. The review mentions that Stalin, in his confidence of his power, “even warned Lenin’s widow Krupskaia that the party would nominate another widow for Lenin if she continued to complain about the execution of her old comrades.”

Stuart Kahan, in his biography of Lazar Kaganovich, “The Wolf of the Kremlin,” claims Kaganovich was the one who warned Krupskaya (his spelling) in a memorable confrontation during a meeting of the Central Committee. As Stalin sat and watched, Krupskaya, “her small frame dominated by black, piercing eyes, commenting on practically everything that took place,” dominated the meeting. Her attacks on Stalin, her “rantings and ravings went on for over an hour,” and the power struggle went on. According to Kahan, it was Kaganovich who challenged her and said that if she continued to make trouble, “we will make someone else Lenin’s widow.”

Kaganovich was one of the leading figures during Stalin’s dictatorship and one of the leading contenders for power after Stalin’s death. His story is a fascinating one.

As power struggles continue in the Soviet Union, it is interesting to read about the past manipulators and their manipulations.

FLORENCE RICHARDS

WHITTIER