With her deep understanding of the country, the adviser played a crucial role in shaping US-Soviet relations

Suzanne Massie, an American writer and informal adviser to US President Ronald Reagan on Soviet affairs, passed away on January 26 at the age of 94 at a care facility in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. She had dedicated her life to bringing the people of Russia and the US closer together.

Her son, Robert Massie Jr., told the Washington Post that she had died from complications of vascular dementia. She is survived by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Massie played a key role in shaping Reagan’s understanding of the culture and diplomacy of America's Cold War adversary, contributing to a thaw in tensions between Washington and Moscow. 

Born in New York City in 1931, Massie was the daughter of a Swiss diplomat and studied at Vassar College and the Sorbonne. She became fluent in Russian and first visited the USSR in the 1960s. There she conducted historical research, with a focus on the Romanov dynasty, which would later influence her writings.

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She wrote several books on the subject, including Land of the Firebird: The Beauty of Old Russia, a work that greatly impressed President Reagan. She said he read all her books and was generally an avid reader, contrary to media portrayals of him as an uneducated former actor.

Between 1984 and 1988, she met with Reagan numerous times, offering insights that helped shape his approach to diplomacy with the Soviet Union. One of her most lasting contributions was introducing the president to the Russian proverb “Doveryai, no proveryai” (“Trust but verify”), which became a guiding principle in arms control negotiations with the last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev.

However, Massie advised Reagan as a private citizen and was never on salary. She chose not to accept payment, emphasizing the importance of staying “independent.” She cited a Swiss saying: “He who pays the piper also calls the tune.”

She often emphasized the distinction between the Soviet government and the Russian people, believing that Americans needed to understand the country’s deep-rooted traditions, spirituality, and resilience.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Massie continued to write and lecture on Russia. She remained deeply connected to the country, frequently visiting and maintaining a residence in St. Petersburg, which she considered her spiritual home. While in the US, she stayed at her home in Blue Hill, Maine, which was modeled after the country dacha of Russia’s most important poet and playwright, Alexander Pushkin.

In 2021, she requested Russian citizenship, citing her lifelong dedication to fostering understanding between the two nations. President Vladimir Putin granted her request, and she received her passport later that year.

In a 2023 interview with RT, Massie emphasized the need for Washington and Moscow to restart dialogue, arguing that strong bilateral relations were crucial for both nations.

“I believe that we need Russia, and Russia needs us,” she said. The two countries “should go and find a way to get back to discussing something else besides war,” the former adviser insisted, referring to the conflict in Ukraine. “Talking is both easier and far less costly than using weapons.”

Massie’s final wishes reflected her enduring love for Russia: she asked that part of her ashes be scattered at Pavlovsk Palace near St. Petersburg. Her personal archive will be donated to the Presidential Library in the city, ensuring that her work on bilateral relations remains accessible to future generations.