Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume V, Soviet Union, March 1985–October 1986

63. Letter From John Denver to Secretary of State Shultz¹

Aspen, Colorado, July 18, 1985

My dear Mr. Shultz:

As you may know, I have just returned from a 12-day concert tour of the Soviet Union, where I was privileged to perform before audiences in Leningrad, Tallinn and Moscow. I was accorded the greatest hospitality from my Soviet hosts, many of whom I had met on an earlier private visit to Moscow and Leningrad last November. Indeed, I have been invited to make a third visit to the Soviet Union later this year, even though the cultural agreement between our two countries expired in 1979.²

My goal in visiting the Soviet Union is to further the development of friendly relations between our two peoples. In my travels, I have found that the music enables people who do not share a common language, cultural heritage or political system to communicate with each other and to build bridges of friendship and understanding.

I met with appropriate State Department and National Security Council staff both before and after my visits to the Soviet Union to exchange information and to ensure that my presence there was fully consistent with Administration policy.

Yesterday, I met on Capitol Hill with a number of Senators and Congressmen to brief them on my most recent visit and to seek their counsel on how best to proceed. I also had an opportunity to discuss U.S.–Soviet relations with Mr. Richard Burt, who is leaving his post as Assistant Secretary of State to become our Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.

Mr. Secretary, I would very much appreciate an opportunity to meet with you next week to discuss the progress of talks aimed at renewing the cultural agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union, and how my personal diplomacy can help further America’s foreign policy objectives. Congressmen William Broomfield and Dante Fascell believe a meeting between us would prove useful.

I will be returning to Washington on Wednesday, July 24 to perform for President Xiannian and Vice Premiere Peng of China, and would be available to meet with you that afternoon or the following morning. I am mindful of your heavy responsibilities and your busy schedule, and will, of course, make myself available at your convenience.³

Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your interest in this matter and your consideration of my request.⁴

Peace,

John Denver

1. Source: Reagan Library, Tyrus Cobb Files, Country File, USSR 1985 (10); NLR–98–5–10–1–6. No classification marking.

2. In telegram 887 from Leningrad on June 25, the Consulate reported: “John Denver performed four public concerts to enthusiastic full houses in Leningrad June 20–23. His Soviet tour continues with two concerts in Tallinn June 25–26 and three concerts in Moscow June 29–30. Denver and his group left Leningrad well satisfied with his reception. He hopes this tour may lead to another visit to the USSR in 1986, with performances for larger audiences hopefully under the auspices of a cultural exchanges agreement.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850446–0068) Denver wrote in his memoir: “The following spring, 1986 [Denver is in error; this trip was in 1985], marked the first time an American artist was invited to give public performances in the Soviet Union since the cultural exchange agreement had been abrogated. In Leningrad, Tallinn, and Moscow, I got to hear my audiences sing ‘Annie’s Song’ in English and they got to hear me sing it in Russian.” (John Denver, Take Me Home, p. 198)

   The Consulate continued in telegram 887: “While on balance the audiences at all four concerts were highly enthusiastic, we detected some small signs of discontent here and there. There was some anxiety in the audience during the first half of the second concert, due largely to the inability of the audience to understand the songs (despite John’s explanations), but in some parts perhaps due to his introductions stressing peace and brotherhood. One couple was observed to walk out after the third song, saying that they constantly hear these exhortations to work for peace. Two of our unofficial artist friends who attended the third concert also said that while they enjoyed the songs and appreciated John’s sincerity, they felt he came across as naïve with regard to the Soviet system. On the other hand, John obviously pushed a button, even though perhaps a programmed one, when he mentioned his support for better U.S.-Soviet relations and for the Geneva talks. This received a sustained burst of applause.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, D850446–0068)

3. President Xiannian of China made a State visit to the United States from July 21 to 31 and in Washington from July 22 to 25.
4. In an August 22 response to Denver, Parris wrote: “I have been asked to reply to your letter on behalf of the Secretary. As a member of my staff explained to your representatives at Gray and Company, the Secretary was called out of the country during late July when you were in Washington. He asked me to express his regrets that he could not meet with you to hear about your recent successful trip to the Soviet Union.” (Department of State, Central Foreign Policy File, Electronic Telegrams, P850139–1123)