Deborah Chan
Bernie Sanders, the US Senator and former presidential candidate, has been accused of honeymooning in Moscow, Russia, during the Cold War. Sanders, a self-proclaimed socialist, and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988, soon after their wedding. They first visited Moscow, where Sanders walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's tomb, before travelling to Yaroslavl to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and the Russian city. Although Sanders has referred to the trip as a strange honeymoon, the couple took a more traditional honeymoon to St. Lucia in the Caribbean the following year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the trip | 1988 |
| Honeymoon destination | Yaroslavl, Russia |
| Actual honeymoon destination | St. Lucia in the Caribbean |
| Purpose of the trip | To establish a sister city in Russia |
| Trip duration | 10 days |
| Trip members | Bernie Sanders, Jane Sanders, and about 10 others |
| Trip cost | Paid by themselves |
| Moscow visit | Yes |
| Moscow activities | Walked through Red Square, saw Lenin's tomb, visited Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) |
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What You'll Learn
- Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to Moscow and Yaroslavl in the Soviet Union in 1988
- The trip was to establish a sister city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia
- Sanders has referred to the trip as a strange honeymoon in his book, Outsider in the White House
- Critics accused Sanders of Bolshevism and having ties to Russia during the 2020 election
- Sanders praised the Moscow Metro system,
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to Moscow and Yaroslavl in the Soviet Union in 1988
In 1988, Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to Moscow and Yaroslavl in the Soviet Union. The trip was not a traditional honeymoon, but rather a diplomatic mission to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl. The couple had a more conventional honeymoon in St. Lucia in the Caribbean the following year.
The timing of Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union was notable, as it occurred just after their wedding and shortly after a summit between US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow. Reagan had travelled to Moscow to finalise a key arms treaty, as US-Soviet relations continued to warm. This context gave the trip an additional layer of significance, as it represented a potential softening of tensions between the two superpowers.
During their time in Moscow, Sanders and his entourage walked through Red Square, visited Lenin's Tomb, and toured the city. They then proceeded to Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), where they visited a cemetery for thousands of Soviets killed during World War II. The group listened to "Swan Lake" playing from speakers strung from trees, a stark contrast to the sombre setting.
In Yaroslavl, Sanders and his companions toured factories, hospitals, and schools. The senator interviewed the city's mayor for a Burlington radio show, asking about the costs of housing and healthcare. The trip offered Sanders a glimpse into the Soviet system, which was struggling with food shortages and a lack of political freedom. Despite this, Sanders praised certain aspects of Soviet life, such as the low cost of housing compared to the United States.
The 1988 trip to the Soviet Union has become a notable episode in Sanders' political career. Critics have used it to imply that Sanders may have ties to or sympathies for Russia. However, Sanders has also faced backlash for his failure to acknowledge Soviet interventions and human rights abuses during his trip.
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The trip was to establish a sister city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, travelled to the Soviet Union with his wife, Jane Sanders, and a delegation of 10 others. The trip was to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington and Yaroslavl, Russia, and it occurred soon after the couple's wedding.
Sanders himself has referred to the trip as a “strange honeymoon”, and while it was certainly unusual, the primary purpose of the trip was diplomacy, not leisure. The couple had a more traditional honeymoon in St. Lucia in the Caribbean the following year.
During the trip, Sanders and his entourage first visited Moscow, where he walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's Tomb. They then 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 and his companions toured factories, hospitals, and schools. They also took a boat ride on the Volga River, during which Sanders interviewed the city's mayor for a Burlington radio show, asking him about the costs of housing and healthcare.
The timing of Sanders's trip was notable, as it came just after Reagan's summit with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow, where they finalized a key arms treaty. Upon completing the trip, Sanders said, "Let's take the strengths of both systems. Let's learn from each other."
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Sanders has referred to the trip as a strange honeymoon in his book, Outsider in the White House
Bernie Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union with his wife, Jane, shortly after their wedding in 1988 has been a topic of interest and controversy. The trip was not a traditional honeymoon, but rather a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. Sanders himself has referred to the trip as a romantic honeymoon and a very strange honeymoon in his 2015 book, "Outsider in the White House."
In the book, Sanders describes how he and Jane, along with about ten other people from Burlington, traveled to the Soviet Union for their honeymoon. He writes about their experiences, including a boat ride on the Volga River, where he interviewed the city's mayor for a Burlington radio show. Sanders also mentions how local officials pulled aside members of his entourage to tell them that the Soviet system was near collapse. He acknowledges that while the quality of housing and healthcare was not good, people only paid a small percentage of their income for them.
The trip to Moscow and Yaroslavl occurred during a significant transformation in US-Soviet relations. Just before Sanders' trip, President Reagan had met with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow to finalize a key arms treaty and push for openness and reform. Sanders praised the summit as "a major step forward for humanity." However, critics accused Sanders of having a soft spot for Russia or even nefarious ties due to this trip.
Sanders has joked about the trip being a "strange honeymoon," and a spokesperson for his campaign confirmed that the trip was pre-scheduled and that they jokingly referred to it as a honeymoon. The spokesperson also clarified that their actual honeymoon took place in St. Lucia in the Caribbean the following year.
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Critics accused Sanders of Bolshevism and having ties to Russia during the 2020 election
In February 2020, news reports revealed that Russia was allegedly interfering in the United States presidential election. This sparked concerns about then-President Donald Trump's connections to Russia, as well as alleged ties between Russia and his Democratic opponents, notably U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. Critics of Sanders were quick to point out that he had travelled to the Soviet Union, implying that the 2020 Democratic presidential candidate may have had a soft spot for or even nefarious ties to Russia.
Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani were among those who claimed that Sanders had "honeymooned" in the Soviet Union. Fox News anchor Sean Hannity went so far as to assert that Sanders honeymooned in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. However, it is important to clarify that this trip to the Soviet Union was not a traditional honeymoon. Bernie and Jane Sanders took their actual honeymoon in St. Lucia in the Caribbean a year later. The trip to the Soviet Union, which included a visit to Moscow, occurred a few days after their wedding in 1988 and was part of an official delegation to establish a sister city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia.
During his trip to Moscow, Sanders walked through Red Square, saw Lenin's Tomb, and praised various aspects of Soviet life, including the housing and healthcare systems. He also criticised certain aspects of American interventionism during a banquet. These actions provided ammunition for critics who accused Sanders of Bolshevism and having a pro-Russia stance. The trip to Yaroslavl, jokingly referred to as a honeymoon by Sanders and his wife, became a punchline for Republican candidates and a source of concern for those wary of Sanders' political leanings.
It is worth noting that the suggestion for Yaroslavl to become Burlington's sister city did not originate with Sanders. Instead, it was proposed by Robert Daniels, a University of Vermont history professor, who highlighted the similarities between the two cities in terms of environment and academic institutions. While Sanders himself described the trip as a romantic honeymoon in his 2015 book "Outsider in the White House", he also referred to it as a very strange honeymoon, indicating a degree of self-awareness about the unusual nature of the trip.
The accusations against Sanders regarding his trip to the Soviet Union reflect a broader context of concerns about Russian interference in US politics and the desire to scrutinise the relationships between political figures and foreign powers. Sanders, known for his democratic socialist views, has been a prominent figure in US politics, with a core message that has resonated with many Americans struggling with financial challenges and seeking a more equitable society.
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Sanders praised the Moscow Metro system, Soviet art programs
Bernie Sanders, the U.S. Senator and former presidential candidate, has been accused of honeymooning in Moscow, Russia, during the Cold War. The trip in question took place in 1988, shortly after his wedding, and included a visit to Moscow, where Sanders walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's tomb.
Sanders, a self-described socialist, has referred to the trip as a “strange honeymoon” and a "quiet, romantic honeymoon", acknowledging the unusual nature of the destination for a newlywed couple. The primary purpose of the trip was diplomacy, as Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, was establishing a sister-city relationship between Burlington and the Russian city of Yaroslavl.
During the trip, Sanders praised the Moscow Metro system and various Soviet art programs. He also commented favourably on the low cost of housing in the Soviet Union, which was significantly more affordable than in the United States. Sanders was "enthralled with the hospitality and the lessons that could be brought home", advocating for learning from each other's strengths.
However, critics have pointed out that Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union, a country known for its political repression and human rights abuses during the Cold War, could indicate a "soft spot" for Russia or even nefarious ties. Some have used the trip as ammunition to accuse Sanders of having Bolshevik or communist sympathies.
It is important to note that Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, took a more traditional honeymoon to St. Lucia in the Caribbean the following year. The Moscow trip, while occurring shortly after their wedding, was not intended as a romantic getaway in the traditional sense.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to Moscow on their honeymoon in 1988.
No, Sanders and his wife also visited Yaroslavl, Leningrad (now St Petersburg), and Burlington.
Sanders walked through Red Square, saw Lenin's tomb, visited a cemetery, and praised the Moscow Metro system and various Soviet art programs.
Sanders went to Moscow to establish a sister city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia.
Yes, critics of Sanders have claimed that he honeymooned in the Soviet Union, implying that he has ties to Russia.
