Rhiannon Hendricks
Bernie Sanders' alleged honeymoon in Russia has been a topic of much speculation and scrutiny, especially during his 2016, 2020, and potential 2024 presidential campaigns. The story first surfaced in a 2016 National Enquirer article, claiming that Sanders and his wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders, honeymooned in Moscow in 1988. While Snopes and other fact-checkers found no concrete evidence of a honeymoon in Moscow, it is true that Sanders and his wife travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988 as part of a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, a city in the Soviet Union. This trip, which occurred during the Cold War and a period of political and economic upheaval in the Soviet Union, has been scrutinised by Sanders' opponents as evidence of questionable judgement and potential Communist involvement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Honeymoon Location | Soviet Union (USSR) |
| Honeymoon Duration | 10 days |
| Honeymoon Purpose | Sister-city relationship with Yaroslavl, 160 miles north of Moscow |
| Honeymoon Activities | Visiting factories, hospitals, schools, a cemetery, a sauna, and a boat ride on the Volga River |
| Honeymoon Attendees | Bernie Sanders, Jane Sanders, and a delegation of 12 Vermonters |
| Honeymoon Criticism | Sanders criticized the US for foreign interventions and high housing and healthcare costs |
| Honeymoon Response | Some viewed Sanders' comments as anti-American and uncomfortable during the Cold War |
Explore related products
![Bernie [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BLc-0nV7L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
- Bernie Sanders' 1988 honeymoon in the Soviet Union was a significant event in his political career
- Sanders' opponents claim his trip to Russia as evidence of dubious judgment and Communist involvement
- Sanders' honeymoon was part of a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl
- Sanders and his wife, Jane, have visited Russia, but there is no record of them honeymooning in Moscow
- Sanders' activities in Russia included singing This Land is Your Land and dancing with Russians
Bernie Sanders' 1988 honeymoon in the Soviet Union was a significant event in his political career
Sanders and his companions paid their own way for the 10-day trip, during which they visited factories, hospitals, and schools. They also experienced Russian culture, including a visit to a sauna and vodka toasts with Russian folk songs. Sanders, in a towel and bare-chested, sang "This Land Is Your Land" with his hosts. The trip was captured on video, with footage showing Sanders criticising the US for its foreign interventions and high housing and healthcare costs.
The timing of Sanders' trip drew attention, as it occurred soon after his wedding and just after President Reagan's summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow. Gorbachev was pushing for openness and reform, and Sanders praised the summit as "a major step forward for humanity". Sanders' trip was part of his broader interest in foreign policy and his support for socialist and communist countries and regimes. He had previously visited Nicaragua in 1985 and voiced admiration for the Cuban revolution led by Fidel Castro.
The trip to the Soviet Union was a significant event in Sanders' political career because it exemplified his approach to foreign policy and his desire to improve relations between the US and the Soviet Union. It also provided a glimpse into Sanders' views on housing, healthcare, and international relations, which would become key issues in his later political campaigns. The trip's footage, circulated online years later, sparked scrutiny and debate during Sanders' 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential campaigns.
Honeymoons: Worth the Cost or Overrated?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sanders' opponents claim his trip to Russia as evidence of dubious judgment and Communist involvement
Bernie Sanders' 1988 trip to the Soviet Union has been labelled by his critics as evidence of "dubious judgment" and Communist involvement. Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, and his wife, Jane, travelled to the USSR for a 10-day "honeymoon", just a day after their wedding. Sanders himself described the trip as a "very strange honeymoon" in his 1997 memoir, *Outsider in the House*.
The trip was more than a honeymoon, however, as Sanders also aimed to formalise a sister-city relationship with Yaroslavl, a city 160 miles north of Moscow. The trip was an official one, with a delegation of 12 Vermonters, including representatives from the city government, the Chamber of Commerce, and other civic institutions. Sanders' critics have pointed to his enthusiasm for the Soviet system during the trip as evidence of his Communist sympathies.
In footage from the trip, Sanders can be seen praising the Soviet housing system, saying that it only cost Russians 5% of their income, compared to 40% in the United States. He also criticised US foreign interventions and blasted the high cost of housing and healthcare in America. In one scene, a shirtless and towel-clad Sanders sings "This Land Is Your Land" with his Soviet hosts.
Sanders' opponents have also criticised him for failing to acknowledge the negative aspects of the Soviet system during his trip. They claim that he ignored the systematic Soviet repression of dissidents and the poverty faced by many in the country. One critic noted that Sanders could have visited Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, to see the true face of the Soviet regime.
The timing of Sanders' trip, just after Reagan's summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, has also drawn attention. Sanders praised the summit as "a major step forward for humanity", muting his usual criticism of Reagan. His opponents claim that this further demonstrates his sympathy for Communist causes.
Honeymoon Fund: Ask Family and Friends for Contributions
You may want to see also
![Weekend at Bernie's (BD) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91PpiTotK1L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Sanders' honeymoon was part of a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl
In the spring of 1988, Bernie Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, embarked on a 10-day trip to the Soviet Union with his wife, Jane, and a small group of Vermonters. Sanders described this trip as a "very strange honeymoon" in his 1997 memoir, "Outsider in the House". However, it was more than a honeymoon; it was also a government trip aimed at establishing a sister-city relationship between Burlington and Yaroslavl, a Russian city on the Volga River.
Sanders and his companions paid their own way, according to news accounts and his campaign. The delegation included representatives from the city government, the Chamber of Commerce, and other civic institutions. The goal of the trip was to break down "international barriers of hatred and mistrust" and to formalize the sister-city relationship with Yaroslavl. This trip was part of Sanders' ambitious foreign policy portfolio, which he had already been developing through previous visits to socialist and communist countries.
During their time in the Soviet Union, the delegation visited Moscow, where they walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's Tomb. They also went to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and visited a cemetery where thousands of Soviets killed during World War II are buried. Sanders then travelled to Yaroslavl, where he toured factories, hospitals, and schools. He also interviewed the city's mayor for a Burlington radio show, asking about housing and healthcare costs.
The bonds forged on this trip led to a long-lasting relationship between the residents of Burlington and Yaroslavl. There have been school exchange programs, official delegation visits, and even an exhibition hockey game between teams from the two cities. The footage of Sanders' trip, which includes scenes of him singing "This Land Is Your Land" with his hosts and criticising the US for its foreign interventions, has resurfaced in recent years, providing a glimpse into this unique chapter in his political career.
The Perfect Time to Book Your Honeymoon
You may want to see also
Sanders and his wife, Jane, have visited Russia, but there is no record of them honeymooning in Moscow
In 1988, Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, embarked on a 10-day trip to the Soviet Union, which Sanders described as a "very strange honeymoon" in his 1997 memoir, Outsider in the House. The trip, which took place just a day after their wedding, was more than a honeymoon as it also served an official purpose. Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, aimed to foster better relations and break down "international barriers of hatred and mistrust".
The couple first visited Moscow, where Sanders walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's tomb. They then travelled to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and Yaroslavl, a "sister city" to Burlington located 160 miles north of Moscow. In Yaroslavl, Sanders and his companions toured factories, hospitals, and schools, and participated in cultural exchanges. They also visited a sauna and enjoyed vodka and Russian folk songs, with a bare-chested, towel-clad Sanders joining in to sing "This Land Is Your Land".
While the trip included elements of a honeymoon, there is no record of Sanders and Jane honeymooning specifically in Moscow. The trip to the Soviet Union, which came at a time of transforming US-Soviet relations, was Sanders's most significant foreign venture at the time. It provided an opportunity for him to learn about the Soviet system, interact with "ordinary people", and advocate for improved relations between the two nations.
The Honeymoon Phase: 3 Months of Bliss?
You may want to see also
Sanders' activities in Russia included singing This Land is Your Land and dancing with Russians
In 1988, Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union for what Sanders described as a "very strange honeymoon". The trip, which took place just a day after the couple tied the knot, was also a business trip with an official purpose. Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, aimed to formalise a "sister-city" relationship with Yaroslavl, a Russian city on the Volga River.
During their 10-day visit, Sanders and his companions first visited Moscow, where he walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's tomb. They then travelled to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) and visited a cemetery where thousands of Soviets killed during World War II are buried. Sanders then travelled to Yaroslavl, where he toured factories, hospitals, and schools. While in Yaroslavl, Sanders and his companions were treated to a visit to a sauna and were offered numerous toasts of vodka and Russian folk songs.
In one memorable moment, a bare-chested, towel-clad Sanders was inspired to join in the singing, choosing the Woody Guthrie socialist classic "This Land Is Your Land". This scene was captured in a video from a Vermont community television station, which was posted online in 2018. In the video, Sanders can be seen sitting at a table lined with vodka bottles, singing along with his hosts.
The trip to the Soviet Union was Sanders's most significant foreign venture at the time and has been a notable chapter in his political career. It demonstrated his interest in foreign policy and his support for improving relations between the two countries. The trip also provided an opportunity for cultural exchange and the development of personal connections, which led to ongoing relationships between residents of Burlington and Yaroslavl.
Honeymoon Hotspots for September: Where to Go?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane O'Meara Sanders, did travel to the Soviet Union in 1988, but there is no evidence that this trip was their honeymoon. The Snopes fact-checking website investigated the claim and found no evidence to support it.
Bernie Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union was part of a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and the Russian city of Yaroslavl.
Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union has been met with scrutiny and skepticism, especially during his 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential campaigns. His opponents have used the trip as evidence of poor judgment and potential Communist involvement. However, others have pointed out that the Soviet Union in 1988 was "hardly a place for an admirer of Communism to find comfort".
