Junior Rasmussen
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, embarked on a 10-day honeymoon to the Soviet Union with his new wife, Jane, and a group of around 10 other people. The trip, which Sanders himself called a very strange honeymoon, has drawn scrutiny and sparked debates about the appropriateness of a U.S. politician honeymooning in a communist country and the implications of his criticisms of the U.S. while abroad. So, was Bernie Sanders' honeymoon a secret?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Honeymoon destination | Soviet Union |
| Honeymoon duration | 10 days |
| Honeymoon start date | The day after Sanders' wedding |
| Honeymooners | Bernie Sanders and his second wife, Jane |
| Other travellers | 10 other people from Burlington |
| Honeymoon activities | Diplomacy, official meetings, interviews, singing "This Land Is Your Land" |
| Honeymoon purpose | Establish Burlington's "sister city" in the Soviet Union |
| Honeymoon cost | Paid by Sanders and his companions |
| Honeymoon criticism | Sanders criticised the U.S. while praising some aspects of the Soviet Union |
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What You'll Learn
- Bernie Sanders' honeymoon in the Soviet Union has been deemed an ideological gesture
- The trip was an official visit dotted with diplomacy, meetings and interviews
- Sanders criticised the US while praising some aspects of the Soviet system
- The trip was an attempt to foster better relations between the two countries
- The trip has been compared to honeymoons in Communist countries by other politicians
Bernie Sanders' honeymoon in the Soviet Union has been deemed an ideological gesture
The choice to spend his honeymoon in the Soviet Union has been interpreted as an ideological statement, especially considering Sanders' political leanings. He has long been an advocate of progressive policies and a critic of neoliberalism. Sanders' views align with supporting workers' self-management, universal and single-payer healthcare, paid parental leave, tuition-free tertiary education, and a Green New Deal. He also supports a reduction in military spending and greater emphasis on diplomacy and international cooperation.
During his trip to the Soviet Union, Sanders did not shy away from critiquing the United States. He criticized the high cost of housing and healthcare in his home country, even going as far as to compare it favorably to the Soviet system. This act of "America-bashing" abroad was seen as inappropriate by some, especially given the context of the Cold War.
However, others have argued that the trip influenced Sanders' views on social welfare and economic equality. Howard Seaver, one of Sanders' companions, suggested that the trip showed Sanders the downsides of the Soviet system while shaping his desire for a safety net and a fair shake for all.
Regardless of the interpretation, Sanders' honeymoon in the Soviet Union has certainly become a notable chapter in his political lore, often brought up during his presidential campaigns.
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The trip was an official visit dotted with diplomacy, meetings and interviews
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, embarked on a 10-day trip to the Soviet Union with his wife, Jane, and about 10 other people from Burlington, Vermont. The trip, which Sanders himself called "a very strange honeymoon," was an official visit to establish Burlington's "sister city" partnership with Yaroslavl, a Russian city on the Volga River.
The journey was dotted with diplomacy, official meetings, and numerous interviews. Sanders, the mayor of Burlington at the time, used the opportunity to criticize certain aspects of the United States, such as the high cost of housing and healthcare, while also praising some elements of the Soviet system, like their transportation system. He advocated for learning from each other's strengths and fostering peaceful coexistence between the two countries.
The timing of the trip, just a day after Sanders' wedding, drew attention, and some questioned the appropriateness of a socialist leader honeymooning in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. However, Sanders and his wife have also jokingly referred to the trip as their honeymoon, acknowledging the unusual nature of the journey.
The trip included a visit to Moscow, where Sanders walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's Tomb. The delegation first visited Yaroslavl in 1987, and the sister-city relationship was formalized in 1988. The main purpose of the trip was to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the two cities.
The delegation included a Republican, David F. Kelley, who helped arrange the trip. Kelley recalled being upset by Sanders' America-bashing and walked out of a room during one of Sanders' criticisms. Despite this, Kelley acknowledged that Sanders was prescient in some of his critiques of the United States.
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Sanders criticised the US while praising some aspects of the Soviet system
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, took a trip to the Soviet Union with his new wife, Jane, and about ten other people. The trip was an official visit to establish Burlington's "sister city" in the Soviet Union. Sanders has described the trip as a “very strange honeymoon".
During the trip, Sanders criticised the US while praising some aspects of the Soviet system. He criticised the cost of housing and healthcare in the US, saying:
> "Our housing in general is better than yours, but people are paying 40 percent of their income for housing. The quality of your housing is not good, but we appreciate the fact that people are paying 5 percent. The quality of your health care is not good, but in the United States, believe me, we have enormous problems in terms of our health-care system."
Sanders also praised the Soviet Union's transportation system and defended Cuban dictator Fidel Castro for his efforts to improve education and healthcare. He said that he was “impressed” by the Nicaraguan socialist leader Daniel Ortega. Sanders has also defended bread lines and expressed excitement about Castro's revolution.
Upon completing the trip, Sanders said:
> "Let’s take the strengths of both systems. Let’s learn from each other."
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The trip was an attempt to foster better relations between the two countries
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, embarked on a 10-day trip to the Soviet Union with his wife, Jane, and about 10 other people from Burlington, Vermont. The trip occurred just a day after their wedding, leading some to jokingly refer to it as a honeymoon. However, the journey was more than a romantic getaway; it was an official visit aimed at fostering better relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.
The main purpose of the trip was to establish Burlington's "sister city" partnership with Yaroslavl, a Russian city on the Volga River. Sanders chose Yaroslavl over Kaunas, Lithuania, due to the former's scenic views and his Jewish heritage, as thousands of Jews had been killed in Kaunas by the Nazis in 1941. This sister-city initiative was intended to promote cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two nations.
During his visit, Sanders engaged in diplomacy, official meetings, and numerous interviews. He sang "This Land Is Your Land" to his hosts and expressed a desire to learn from each other's strengths and improve relations. He criticised aspects of both the US and the Soviet Union, such as the high cost of housing and healthcare in the US, while acknowledging the poor quality of housing in the Soviet Union.
Upon his return, Sanders held a news conference, where he stood by his criticisms and emphasised the importance of mutual criticism for improving relations. He reflected on the trip, saying, "Let's take the strengths of both systems. Let's learn from each other." This trip has been influential in shaping Sanders's views on social welfare, economic equality, and foreign policy, demonstrating his commitment to fostering better relations and learning from one another.
The 1988 journey to the Soviet Union was, therefore, a unique and significant event in Bernie Sanders's life and political career, showcasing his willingness to engage with different ideologies and his desire to improve international relations through diplomacy and mutual understanding.
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The trip has been compared to honeymoons in Communist countries by other politicians
The 1988 trip to the Soviet Union by Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, has been compared to honeymoons in Communist countries by other politicians. The trip, which took place just a day after their wedding, has been described by Sanders as "a very strange honeymoon". It was an official 10-day visit to the communist country, which included diplomacy, official meetings, and numerous interviews. The main purpose of the trip was to establish Burlington's "sister city" in the Soviet Union. Sanders and his wife were accompanied by about 10 other people from Burlington.
The choice of a Communist country for a honeymoon has been criticised by some, who argue that it was an ideological gesture and that Sanders was a supporter of gulags and politically motivated famines. Others have accused Sanders of “America-bashing" during the trip, as he criticised the high cost of housing and healthcare in the U.S. while praising the Soviet Union's transportation system and defending Fidel Castro's efforts in improving education and healthcare.
However, others have defended the trip, arguing that it was an opportunity for cultural exchange and a chance to foster better relations between the two countries. Howard Seaver, who accompanied Sanders on the trip, said that it showed Sanders "the downside of the Soviet system" while shaping his views on social welfare and economic equality.
It is worth noting that Sanders is not the only politician who has chosen to honeymoon in a Communist country. In 1977, then-Senator Biden spent his honeymoon in Hungary, a Communist-run country. In the 1980s and 1990s, two Democrats and one independent with close ties to the Democrats also chose to honeymoon in Communist countries, including Tim Walz, who went to Communist China.
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Frequently asked questions
No, it was not a secret. The trip took place in 1988, a day after he married his second and current wife, Jane Sanders.
Bernie Sanders went on his honeymoon to Yaroslavl, a city in the Soviet Union.
Bernie Sanders and his wife were accompanied by about 10 other people from Burlington, including Howard Seaver and David F. Kelley.
The main purpose of the trip was to establish Burlington's "sister city" in the Soviet Union.
The trip was influential to Bernie Sanders, showing him "the downside of the Soviet system" and shaping his views on social welfare and economic equality.
