Junior Rasmussen
Bernie Sanders' honeymoon has been the subject of much speculation and controversy. The senator and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988, shortly after their wedding. While Sanders himself has referred to the trip as a very strange honeymoon, it was primarily a diplomatic mission to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl. The couple's itinerary included meetings, interviews, and sightseeing, and Sanders has been criticised for his apparent praise of Soviet housing and healthcare during the trip. The following year, Sanders and Jane took a more traditional honeymoon in St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1988 |
| Honeymoon destination | Soviet Union |
| Honeymoon destination cities | Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) |
| Honeymoon type | Government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl |
| Real honeymoon destination | St. Lucia in the Caribbean |
| Real honeymoon timing | The following year |
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What You'll Learn
Bernie Sanders' honeymoon in the Soviet Union
In 1988, Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union on what has been described as a "very strange honeymoon". The trip came just days after the couple's wedding and was primarily a government trip to establish a "sister-city" relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, a Russian city on the Volga River.
Sanders, who was the mayor of Burlington at the time, led a 12-person delegation of city representatives and officials, including his wife, who was the director of the Mayor's Youth Office. The group first visited Moscow, where Sanders walked through Red Square and saw Lenin's tomb, before travelling to Leningrad (now St Petersburg) and Yaroslavl.
Over the course of the 10-day trip, Sanders and his delegation were treated to nice meals, toured a decorated subway station, took horse-and-buggy rides, and watched professional dancers. Sanders also met with Yaroslavl city officials, including the mayor, Alexander Riabkov, and discussed the differences between central planning in the Soviet Union and the United States.
Sanders has described the trip as a "very strange honeymoon" and a "quiet and romantic honeymoon", acknowledging the unusual nature of the excursion. He has also used the trip to help explain his views on foreign policy and has cited it as an example of his idealism and interest in foreign affairs.
It is important to note that while the trip occurred shortly after Sanders' wedding, it was not a traditional honeymoon. The primary purpose of the trip was diplomatic, and it included a large delegation of officials. The couple had a more traditional honeymoon the following year in St Lucia in the Caribbean.
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The trip was a government initiative
The trip Bernie Sanders took for his honeymoon was indeed a government initiative. Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, was the mayor of Burlington, Vermont at the time of his wedding in 1988. Just a few days after exchanging vows, Sanders and his new wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union as part of a government trip. The purpose of the trip was to establish a "sister-city" relationship between Burlington and the Soviet city of Yaroslavl.
The trip was not a traditional honeymoon, and Sanders himself has referred to it as a very strange honeymoon. The delegation included about a dozen city representatives and officials, and the focus was on diplomacy, not leisure. The trip included meetings, interviews, and diplomatic functions, and the group visited three cities: Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
During the trip, Sanders and his team were treated to nice meals, toured a decorated subway station, took horse-and-buggy rides, and watched professional dancers. They also met with local officials and discussed topics such as housing and healthcare. Upon his return to the US, Sanders held a news conference where he criticised aspects of both the Soviet and American systems.
While some have criticised Sanders' trip as evidence of dubious judgment or Communist sympathies, others have pointed out that the Soviet Union at the time was not a comfortable place for an admirer of communism. Overall, the trip can be seen as a combination of business and pleasure, with Sanders taking on his official duties as mayor while also experiencing Soviet culture and society.
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Sanders' praise for the Soviet Union
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane Sanders, travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988, shortly after their wedding. The trip was an official government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, a community along the Volga River with a population of about 500,000 people. Although Sanders has referred to the trip as a “very strange honeymoon”, it was not a traditional honeymoon, as the focus was on diplomacy and included about 10 other guests.
Sanders has been criticised for his praise of the Soviet Union during this trip, with some accusing him of America-bashing. However, it is important to note that the context of the time was one of improving US-Soviet relations, with Reagan and Gorbachev signing the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987 and Reagan speaking in Moscow's Red Square in 1988. Sanders himself praised the summit between Reagan and Gorbachev as "a major step forward for humanity".
During his trip, Sanders was impressed by the hospitality he received and the lessons he learned about Soviet society and policies. He praised the Soviet Union for its public transportation system and its "absolutely beautiful" train stations with chandeliers and culture programs. He also noted that, despite the “enormous deficiencies” in democratic rights, there was no homelessness and the country had "very high-quality health care".
Upon returning from the trip, Sanders said, "Let's take the strengths of both systems. Let's learn from each other". He has used this trip over the years to help explain his views on foreign policy, citing it as an example of how critical engagement with other societies can lead to mutual understanding and improvement.
Sanders has also been criticised for his praise of other communist leaders and countries, such as Fidel Castro and Cuba. He has argued that Castro's "massive literacy program" and improvements to the lives of poor people in Cuba should be acknowledged, despite the authoritarian nature of the regime.
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Critics call it evidence of communist sympathies
Critics of Bernie Sanders have pointed to his decision to travel to the Soviet Union shortly after his wedding as evidence of communist sympathies. The trip, which took place in 1988, was described by Sanders himself as a "very strange honeymoon".
The context of the trip is important to understanding why it has attracted such scrutiny. Firstly, the trip occurred during the Cold War, a period of heightened tension between the Western bloc, led by the United States, and the Eastern bloc, led by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union was an authoritarian, communist state, and its political and ideological rivalry with the democratic United States dominated global geopolitics for decades.
Secondly, the purpose of the trip was diplomatic, specifically to establish a "sister-city" relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, a city in the Soviet Union. Sanders, who was the mayor of Burlington at the time, led a delegation of city representatives and officials, including his new wife, Jane Sanders. While the trip was not a traditional honeymoon, it has nonetheless been characterised as such by critics due to its timing.
The scrutiny intensified during Sanders' campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020, as his opponents sought to raise doubts about his electability and question his judgement. They argued that his decision to travel to the Soviet Union, a country with a poor human rights record and political repression, indicated sympathy for communist ideologies.
However, it is important to note that the Soviet Union was beginning to open itself up to the world at the time, and the trip occurred shortly after the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987. Additionally, Sanders has described himself as a democratic socialist, which is distinct from communism, and has acknowledged the shortcomings of the Soviet system. For instance, he noted that the quality of housing and healthcare in the United States was "significantly better" than in the Soviet Union, despite the higher cost.
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Sanders' real honeymoon was in St. Lucia
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding in 1988. The trip was part of a government initiative to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl. Although the couple referred to this trip as their "honeymoon", it was not a traditional romantic getaway. In fact, Sanders himself described it as a "very strange honeymoon". The main purpose of the trip was diplomatic, and it included meetings, interviews, and other official functions.
However, Sanders' real honeymoon took place in St. Lucia in the Caribbean. The couple enjoyed a more traditional and romantic honeymoon in this idyllic destination, known for its beautiful beaches and lush rainforests. St. Lucia has even been named the World's Leading Honeymoon Destination by the World Travel Awards in 2018, further emphasising its appeal as a romantic escape.
The choice of St. Lucia as a honeymoon destination offers a range of exciting activities and experiences for couples. Jennifer and Sam, a couple who honeymooned in St. Lucia, shared their experience, which included ziplining in the rainforest, horseback riding on the beach, a candlelight dinner, a volcano tour, and snorkelling. They described their trip as a "dream honeymoon", highlighting the beauty and excitement that the island offers.
St. Lucia's reputation as a top honeymoon destination is well-deserved, as it provides a combination of natural beauty, adventure, and romance. It is the perfect place for couples to create lasting memories, just as Bernie and Jane Sanders did when they chose to spend their real honeymoon on the island.
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Frequently asked questions
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union for their honeymoon. They visited Moscow, Yaroslavl and Leningrad (now St Petersburg).
Bernie Sanders has been accused of having communist sympathies or anti-American tendencies due to his trip to the Soviet Union. However, it's important to note that the primary purpose of his trip was diplomacy, not leisure, and he has described it as a very strange honeymoon.
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, took part in a 10-day trip to the Soviet Union with a delegation of city representatives and officials. They met with local officials, toured decorated subway stations, took horse-and-buggy rides, and watched professional dancers. Sanders also attended meetings, interviews and diplomatic functions, and criticised the quality of housing and healthcare in America.
