The Presidium

• 1952 - Stalin calls the 19th party congress
• Stalin is very passive and satisfied watch everyone else panic
• Meeting of central committee where Stalin makes his last speech
• Attacks Molotov in his speech
• Stalin says he’s scrapping Polit bureau and replace it with a new body called the presidium that had a membership of 25
• Party membership jumped from 4 million to 6 million - under age of 45 - many had no knowledge of Russia before soviet union or west - they were indoctrinated and not questioning - future of the party