THE BIG FOUR 255‘more realistic’ viewpoint on international relations than Reagan’s
other leading officials.^49 In September 1985 he confided in him that he
had bought a bottle of vodka in New York when such a purchase
would have involved hours of queuing in Moscow.^50 He nursed ‘good
working contacts’ with Shultz even after the disappointment at Reyk-
javik.^51 On more than one occasion he half-warned, half-implored:
‘Don’t try to mess around with the problems in the Caucasus.’^52 Shultz
reciprocated Shevardnadze’s warmth. In April 1987 he surprised him
at a supper party in Moscow:
And so some people gave me a toast, and I said, ‘I’m not going to
do that.’ So I got the word—I got the sheet music of the song
‘Georgia On My Mind’ and I got the words translated into Rus-
sian. So came my time, I handed that to Shevardnadze . . . And
then I had a recording of the Torch Singers singing it. Then I had
three guys from our embassy who were Russian speakers sing it.
Then I sang it. That was my toast. He loved it. He absolutely loved
it . . . But then he said something very interesting. He said, ‘Thank
you, George. That shows respect.’ I thought it was a really inter-
esting reaction. And it tended to help in our negotiation. It kind
of broke ice and changed the atmosphere.^53The other three singers were Jack Matlock, Tom Simons and the
American official interpreter.^54 It was an experience that Shevardnadze
found very touching.^55
Shultz took pleasure in the joint progress they were making. She-
vardnadze effusively agreed: ‘One of my friends . . . asked me whether
I’m ready to fly to Washington again to bring things to completion. I
told him: I’d even travel to Mars with Shultz. On this occasion I’ve
come to Washington, but Mars isn’t off limits.’^56 Shultz could see that
the Soviet leaders were groping for ways to handle the American polit-
ical environment. Noting that the Politburo was hoping to invite the
leaders of the American Congress to Moscow, he advised that a bigger
group would help in getting the necessary support.^57 He referred to
him openly as ‘my friend Shevardnadze’.^58 As the partnership between
Washington and Moscow deepened, Shultz ventured to counsel
Gorbachëv about public relations. In December 1987 Gorbachëv was
preening himself after a press conference in Washington. Shultz dis-
abused him about his performance, which had been rambling and
tendentious; he said he needed to change his style or risk losing his