Later that year [1960] Sputnik 5 flew two dogs, Belka and Strelka, to space and, happily for them, returned them alive. After a period as a celebrity, Strelka retired from public life and had six puppies, one of them named Pushinka (Fluffy). Khrushchev remembered that during a conversation in 1961 with US First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy she had asked after Strelka. Now developing a skill for gifting, he sent Pushinka to the White House, complete with Soviet passport. President John F. Kennedy wrote to thank him: 'Mrs Kennedy and I were particularly pleased to receive "Pushinka". Her flight from the Soviet Union to the United States was not as dramatic as the flight of her mother, nevertheless it was a long voyage and she stood it well. We both appreciate your remembering these matters in your busy life.' Pushinka and one of the Kennedy dogs, Charlie, then developed a shine for one another, resulting in four puppies referred to by JFK as 'pupniks'. Given the extreme tensions of the Cold War, these rare moments of cordiality were welcomed.
- Tim Marshall, The Future of Geography, London, 2023, p.36
See also:
No comments:
Post a Comment