Russia: The Hero

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As Premier Kosygin was flying to a cool reception in Turkey, all the adulation at home seemed to be going to his comrade, Party Boss Leonid Brezhnev. Ever since they toppled Nikita Khrushchev from power two years ago, Soviet leaders have rhapsodized about the virtues of "collective leadership" and ranted against Nikita's "cult of personality." Last week on the occasion of his 60th birthday, Brezhnev was made a Hero of the Soviet Union. In a rare event, his leonine likeness stared enigmatically from Pravda and special editions of the other Moscow newspapers. Was Brezhnev actually fostering his own little cult?

Kremlinologists dutifully measured the size of Brezhnev's mug with that of Khrushchev when he won the same honor in 1964 on his 70th birthday; it was only half as big. In the detailed press accounts of Brezhnev's career, some experts saw an effort to show fraternal Communist parties that Brezhnev has the stature to lead them against China. Others saw the boost for Brezhnev as ratification of his victory in a guns v. butter dispute; Kosygin is said to have opposed the 8% increase in military outlays approved two weeks ago.

But if there was a growing sense of competition in the top ranks of the Kremlin, Brezhnev — recognized all along by most experts as primus inter pares — was quick to minimize its importance. Said he as the new medal was pinned to his chest: "In the face of the great task that has to be accomplished, I am encouraged by an awareness of the fact that in the entire Central Commit tee and the government we are working as a smooth, harmonious collective, relying on each other's assistance."