In 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became leader of Soviet Russia, a day after the death of former leader, Konstantin Chernenko. Gorbachev made significant changes to government policy in Russia allowing for talks between the US president and Himself. These talks included reducing nuclear arms which relieved some of the tensions during the cold war. His approach was not welcomed by many communist hardliners and economic problems in Russia led to increased support for Boris Yeltsin, and an attempted coup in 1991. Gorbachev survived the coup attempt but growing pressure lead to his retirement on the 25th of December, 1991.
In 1955 the English chemist and inventor of penicillin, Sir Alexander Fleming died of a heart attack, aged 73. Fleming worked as a Field medic in World War I and after seeing the death toll caused from the spread of infection he made it his life’s goal to find a cure. In 1922 Fleming made the discovery of lysozyme, a natural antibacterial agent found in tears, but he continued his work to find a better cure. He was successful in 1929 with his discovery of penicillin (found by accident from a mould growth on a sample of bacteria) which changed the world of medicine and saved countless lives around the world. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was among the mourners at his funeral that took place at St. Pauls Cathedral, London. As the first anti-biotic, penicillin became particularly important for soldiers during World War II and its production had to be moved to the US to protect supplies from the German bombing raids.
In 1941 the ‘Lend Lease’ as devised by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt went into effect, providing money and materials to Great Britain and her allies against Germany in World War II. Roosevelt wanted to find a way to help the Allies while officially staying Neutral and devised this act allowing the president to “sell, transfer title to, exchange, lease, lend, or otherwise dispose of, to any such government [whose defence the President deems vital to the defence of the United States] any defense article". Its official title was “An Act Further to Promote the Defense of the United States” and based on the reasoning that if you help your neighbour defend their home you effectively enhance the security of your own (it was also well known that this war may well come to the United States and helping Britain and her allies would help America). The military hardware was made available on the understanding that if an item was destroyed it would be paid for and if it was un-damaged it would be returned for free. To sell this to the American public, the majority of whom wanted to remain neutral, FDR compared the situation to a neighbour’s house being on fire and them wanting to borrow a hose "I don't say... 'Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you have to pay me $15 for it' - I don't want $15 — I want my garden hose back after the fire is over." On this day the Lend Lease act became law and gave the Allies much needed resources and boosted moral.
