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Peter DemichevMinister of Culture of the USSR
Date of Birth: 03.01.1918
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Biography of Peter Demichev
- Political Career
- Minister of Culture
- Personality and Legacy
- Personal Life
- Views on Vladimir Putin
Biography of Peter Demichev
Early Life and EducationPeter Demichev (Petr Nilovich Demichev) was born on December 21, 1917, in the village of Pesochnaya in the Kaluga region (now the city of Kirov). He grew up in a working-class family and attended a vocational technical school after completing his secondary education. In 1937, Peter joined the Red Army and served until 1944. In 1939, he became a member of the Communist Party and in 1944, he graduated from the D.I. Mendeleev Moscow Chemical and Technological Institute and engaged in scientific and pedagogical activities.
Political Career
Starting in 1945, Peter held several party positions, including serving as an assistant to the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Nikita Khrushchev. From July 1958 to March 1959, he served as the head of affairs of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, and from 1959 to 1960, he was the First Secretary of the Moscow Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. In his role as the First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1960 to 1962, Demichev began to embody the ideas of Khrushchev's gigantomania. He oversaw the chemical industry from December 1963 and became a trusted associate of Leonid Brezhnev during the preparation and implementation of the removal of Nikita Khrushchev from power in October 1964. In the 1970s, as the Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union responsible for ideology, science, and culture, Peter proposed Mikhail Gorbachev, the then First Secretary of the Stavropol Krai Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, to become the head of the Propaganda Department. However, after consulting with Mikhail Suslov, Gorbachev declined the offer.
Minister of Culture
Peter Demichev was appointed as the Minister of Culture of the USSR in November 1974, following the death of Ekaterina Furtseva. This appointment came as a surprise even to those close to Peter, who learned about it from the television program "Vremya." In this new position, he provided assistance to many cultural figures. For example, in 1970, he positively responded to the request of Arkady Raikin and helped him with the request for medical service in the hospital of the Ministry of Health of the USSR. In 1971, Demichev assisted writer and film director Vasily Shukshin in obtaining a four-room apartment.
Personality and Legacy
Peter Demichev was known for his calm and composed demeanor. He rarely raised his voice and was considered a soft-spoken individual. Despite holding the position of an ideological official, he was criticized by some for being indecisive and not keeping his word. However, he was respected for his intellectual capacity and education. He was often described as a well-rounded person who did not rely on prepared speeches or quotes during discussions. During his career, Demichev faced criticism from figures in the cultural sphere, such as Yuri Lyubimov, who referred to him as "the chemist" and even "Nilovna," expressing their disdain for him.
Personal Life
Peter Demichev is married to singer Maria Nikolaevna Demicheva, who performed in the A.V. Sveshnikov Choir. Their daughter, Elena Petrovna Shkolnikova, is a singer and People's Artist of Russia. She worked in the Bolshoi Theatre for 18 years.
Views on Vladimir Putin
As an experienced politician, Peter referred to Vladimir Putin as a "dark horse," stating that the idealized images created by television are far from reality.
