NAMES IN THE NEWS : Gorbachev OKs Brown Invitation
Mikhail S. Gorbachev has accepted Brown University’s invitation to speak on campus, a State Department official said today, but the school is refusing to comment.
The State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Gorbachev had agreed in principle to speak at the Ivy League school, but it was unclear whether the Soviet president will be available to speak at Brown’s commencement in late May.
“The timing of Brown’s commencement does not coincide with plans for the summit,” the official said.
Gorbachev and President Bush plan to meet in the United States in June, but probably not until late in the month.
School officials have refused any comment since reports of Gorbachev’s possible visit surfaced Tuesday.
“We still don’t feel we can say anything,” said Robert Reichley when told about the State Department official’s comment. “I can’t tell you what the reason is.”
On Tuesday, a congressional source also said Gorbachev had agreed to accept an honorary degree from Brown, but no date had been set.
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