Journey to the Soviet Union

As improbable as it sounds, World War Three might have been prevented by a small child from the state of Maine.... When I was in Junior High School back in the early 1960's, and we studied World War One in history class, I remember that the triggering event was identified as caused by an assassination, and that this one act immediately triggered other events that led to the beginning of World War One. Note that one person caused this triggering event by an insane act of terror and murder.... Now, fast-forward to the early 1980's and the growing tensions between America and the Soviet Union. Just as the harsh words and saber-rattling reached a new high, the gravely ill leader of the Soviet Union died and a new leader was chosen to take his place. Fearful of the war talk between her nation and another, young Samantha Smith asked her Mother to write a letter to the new Soviet leader. When her Mom suggested to Samantha that she sit down and write of what was in her heart to the new Soviet leader herself, young Samantha did just that, thus setting a series of events in motion that changed our world forever in leading us from the brink of war to a lasting peace that has remained unbroken to this day.... Samantha Smith's visit to the Soviet Union was a defining event in world history...things were never the same between America and the Soviet Union after her journey. The warlike words ceased between our nations and the good-will and peace in one little girl's heart triumphed over the fear, mistrust, and suspicion that had dominated relationships between the two nations for many decades before her visit. Whatever results people thought her visit might produce, they could never have imagined in their wildest dreams the incredible impact and historical significance that her vist would generate...such impact that is still evident in the early Twenty-First Century! There wasn't a shooting war between America and the Soviet Union in the 1980's, and when the Soviet Union broke up it did so in a peaceful manner that at one time would have been thought to be impossible. Even today, decades after her tragic death in a commercial airline crash, Samantha Smith is loved and remembered by the Russian people and those of the new nations of the former Soviet Union, as well as in America and throughout the world. Her influence and message of peace and love touch those of today as profoundly as back in the 1980's, and those who pray that the nations and peoples of the world might live in peace as one will never forget her and how she changed our world for the better. --- John Michael O'Loughlin

This is the original book by the young Samantha Smith and her father, Arthur Smith, about her family's trip to the Soviet Union on the invitiation of Yuri Andropov. Samantha, an 11 year old girl, wtote a letter in 1982 to the new Soviet Premier, expressing her desire for peace. He responded with a letter and invitation to visit. This is the only account of the trip written by Samantha.

"I found out about this book from a story about Samantha Smith in my language book when I was in sixth grade. The story mentioned Samantha's book and that's how I found out about it.