Gorbachev, Mikhail

Mikhail Gorbachev is a former Soviet statesman. He was the final leader of the Soviet Union, having served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1985 until 1991, and as the country's head of state from 1988 until its dissolution in 1991. Gorbachev's policies of openness and restructuring as well as summit conferences with President Ronald Reagan contributed to the end of the Cold War. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990.