Ramseur, David, authorUniversity of Alaska Press, publisher2022-04-222022-04-222017https://hdl.handle.net/10217/234806Just five years after a Soviet missile blew a civilian airliner out of the sky over the North Pacific, an Alaska Airlines jet braved Cold War tensions to fly into tomorrow. Crossing the Bering Strait between Alaska and the Russian Far East, the 1988 Friendship Flight reunited Native peoples of common languages and cultures for the first time in four decades. It and other dramatic efforts to thaw what was known as the Ice Curtain launched a thirty-year era of perilous, yet prolific, progress. Melting the Ice Curtain tells the story of how inspiration, courage, and persistence by citizen-diplomats bridged a widening gap in superpower relations. David Ramseur was a first-hand witness to the danger and political intrigue, having flown on that first Friendship Flight, and having spent thirty years behind the scenes with some of Alaska's highest officials. As Alaska celebrates the 150th anniversary of its purchase, and as diplomatic ties with Russia become perilous, Melting the Ice Curtain shows that history might hold the best lessons for restoring diplomacy between nuclear neighbors; 'We are now at another critical turning point in our history. Melting the Ice Curtain tells a compelling story of the success of grassroots citizen diplomacy and details lessons for today's perilously poor relations between the world's superpowers. Ramseur is one of Alaska's experts on this topic and he offers valuable insights on how we may turn our challenges into opportunities'--Russell J. Handy, Lieutenant General, USAF, Retired Commander, Alaskan Command.--Provided by publisher.Maps -- Prologue -- A call to arms -- Extending hands of friendship -- A Juneau peacenik in the Kremlin -- Swimming against the current -- Historic flight approved -- Friendship flight to tomorrow -- Dramatic reversal -- Soviets return the favor -- Breaking the ice -- Adventure diplomacy across the Strait -- Deception on Diomede -- From Uelen to Vladivostok -- Visa-free reunification -- Golden Samovar Service -- Open for business -- Beyond the coup -- University of Alaska teaches Capitalism 101 -- Oil in Sakhalin, flush toilets in Chukotka -- The thrill is gone -- Mercy mission to Magadan -- Always keep talking -- Detained in the Bering Strait -- A special Alaska-Russia affinity.born digitalbooksengCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.All rights reserved. User is responsible for compliance. Please contact University Press of Colorado at https://upcolorado.com/our-books/rights-and-permissions for use information.Alaska -- Relations -- Soviet UnionSoviet Union -- Relations -- AlaskaAlaska -- Boundaries -- Soviet UnionSoviet Union -- Boundaries -- AlaskaDiplomacy -- History -- 20th centuryAlaska -- History -- 1959Political participation -- History -- 20th centurySoviet Union -- Foreign relations -- 1985-1991Friendship -- Political aspects -- History -- 20th centuryUnited States -- Foreign relations -- 1981-1989TextAccess is limited to the Adams State University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, University of Denver, University of Northern Colorado, University of Wyoming, Utah State University, and Western Colorado University members only.