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Its all been leading up to this.

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(Spoiler alert: They both survive.)

AsVultures official history explainer, Ill fill you in on exactly what you oughta know about the 1987 conference.

Yes, Im watchingThe Americans, I know about the Cold War.Okay, Ill calm down now.

The summit everyone keeps talking about is the Washington summit of December 1987.

I know about Reagan, but Im not the worlds biggest Gorbachev expert.

He came to power in 1985, after the three previous General Secretaries had all died in quick succession.

(Its nothing fishy, they were just old.)

I get it, you paid attention in high school.Wait, Im almost done!

Did they actually agree on anything?Yes!

Why was Gorbachev so willing to concede so much?It all comes back toglasnostandperestroika.

In the show, the Soviet military is worried Gorbachev will abandon Dead Hand in the negotiations.

Did he?He did not.

(Although he would say that, wouldnt he.)

One more fun fact: Itpossibly still exists!

Getting past all that is going to take Elizabeth Jenningss most powerful wig.

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