Leonid Brezhnev

Brezhnev was portrayed by Nehemiah Persoff in the 1983 made-for-TV movie Sadat.

Brezhnev (regarding Czechoslovakia's attempt to break away from the Soviet sphere in 1968): What we have, we hold.

Brezhnev's regime became more oppressive towards Jews than the regime of predecessor Khrushchev.

Another Brezhnev joke went like this: Brezhnev brought in his aged mother from the countryside in order to show her what he had accomplished. He showed her his fancy cars, his plush office and apartment in the Kremlin, and his country estate. "This is all very nice, Leonid," said the old woman. "But suppose the Reds come back?"

Brezhnev caught typhoid as a young man but eventually made a full recovery.

Some believe that Brezhnev himself was behind the 1981 attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II.

The Soviet economy stagnated badly during the final years of Brezhnev's leadership.

Brezhnev is buried inside the Kremlin walls.

Brezhnev loved medals. His final tally was 113 which were either awarded to him or he awarded himself.

In May of 1976, Brezhnev made himself a Marshal of the Soviet Union. He was the first political Marshal since the Stalin Era.

In a 1977 power struggle, Brezhnev forced the retirement of Supreme Soviet chairman Nikolai Podgorny and assumed the office himself.

Brezhnev's favorite actor was Chuck Connors.

Brezhnev was a fan of "cowboy" movies as he called them.

Brezhnev's entourage when he traveled always included several "secretaries" to whom he would "dictate."

Brezhnev's wife was named Viktoria.

In June of 1973, Brezhnev visited the United States.

On January 22, 1969, Brezhnev was the victim of an assassination attempt by a disgruntled Soviet Army officer.

In 1968, Brezhnev orchestrated the invasion of Czechoslovakia and subsequent removal of that country's reform regime.

On October 14, 1964, Brezhnev and others removed Nikita Khrushchev from office. Brezhnev became First Secretary of the Communist Party which at the time was the real power in the Soviet Union.

One Brezhnev joke that was widely circulated in the Soviet Union went as follows: A stamp was issued with Brezhnev's picture on it but it was not showing up on postage documents. An investigation was undertaken to determine why. It was discovered that the people were spitting on the wrong side of the stamp.

Brezhnev was a car buff who liked fast Western cars.

In 1960, Brezhnev became President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet.

In 1957, Brezhnev became a full member of the Soviet Politburo.

In 1952, Brezhnev became a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee.

Brezhnev became a protege of future Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev during World War II.

Brezhnev left the Army in 1946 having attained the rank of major general.

Brezhnev served as a political commissar during World War II.

One bad aspect of Brezhnev's regime was that the secret police or KGB grew in power.

Brezhnev joined the Communist Party in 1931.

Brezhnev was originally an engineer by profession and worked in the iron and steel industries.

Brezhnev was the son of a steel worker.