Smith, Samantha (1972–1985)

“America's Youngest Ambassador,” Samantha Reed Smith is celebrated for giving children around the world a voice in the volatile Cold War of the 1980s. Her simple approach to activism demonstrates what an individual voice can do to further international understanding. Born June 29, 1972, Samantha was 10 years old when she learned from public television the apocalyptic potential of the nuclear arms race then escalating under President Ronald Reagan and the new Soviet leader Yuri Androprov. Samantha wrote a short letter to Andropov asking him to tell her what he would do to avoid a war with the United States.

In April 1983, Samantha received a two-page letter from Andropov, acknowledging her specific question and the terrible nature of nuclear weapons. Andropov's response cited his nation's declaration not to use nuclear weapons first, against any country. The letter complimented her as a courageous and honest girl, resembling the character Becky of Twain's Huckleberry Finn. Andropov concluded with an invitation for Samantha to come to his country and see first hand that, just like her, everyday Soviets wanted peace and friendship.

In July 1983, Samantha and her family visited the Soviet Union for 2 weeks. At the international children's camp Artek Samantha forged friendships with Russian children also concerned about peace. Samantha returned home, giving television interviews and writing a book, Journey to the Soviet Union, about her experience. In a December 1983 speech at the International Children's Symposium in Kobe, Japan, she boldly suggested that United States and Soviet leaders exchange granddaughters for 2 weeks every year, because a leader would not want to bomb a country that “his granddaughter was visiting.”

Samantha and her father were killed in a plane crash in Maine, August 25, 1985. Samantha, age 13, was mourned worldwide as a representative for world peace. The Soviet government issued a postage stamp, and named an asteroid, in her honor. Samantha's home state of Maine erected a life-size statue of Samantha releasing a dove near the Maine State Museum in Augusta, and proclaimed the first Monday in June to be Samantha Smith Day.

Samantha's mother established the Samantha Smith Foundation in October 1985, dedicated to fostering international friendships among children and teaching people about peace. The foundation organized conferences on peace education, and summer camp exchanges for children ages 11 to 16, bringing its first Soviet campers to America in 1987 despite threats against them, and launching in 1991 what may be the first business internship in the United States for young people from former Soviet areas.

By 1995, many youth exchange organizations were following in Samantha's footsteps. The nonprofit foundation shifted its resources to the establishment of the Samantha Smith Scholarship Fund to support study abroad programs at the University of Maine. The mission statement of Samantha Smith Elementary School in Sammamish, Washington, includes carrying out her legacy. The Peace Abbey's Samantha Smith Project, in Sherborn, Massachusetts, has had Samantha's book republished, and is collaborating with the New England [Page 1295]Peace Studies Association on a Peace Studies curriculum for schools and libraries.

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