Reading Scott Eyman's new biography of Cecil B.DeMille, "Empire of Dreams" -- first-rate, by the way. Came across a reference that DeMille visited the USSR in 1931.

Didn't know it, but was struck by some of the parallels with RAH's trip in the early sixties. These are DeMille's own words.

p. 283: "The gravest danger between the two countries is lack of understanding of each other's true condition and purpose."

p. 283: "Hygiene is what should be introduced."

p. 284: "...poverty and sloth beyond words"

p. 284: "Russia is a land of no liberty -- of much paper money -- of terrible filth -- of great determination -- of high ideals -- and almost hopeless poverty. Russia is a land of one hundred and thirty eight million slaves and two million masters....There is less freedom in Russia than in any country that I know. There are twelve million bureaucrats who cannot make a living. Their children are not given schooling..."

I guess Russia was not ready for its close-up...

That was I think just one year before H.G. Wells went to Russia for a meeting with Stalin. He was already pretty disillusioned. I think that showed up in Experiment in Autobiography