Episode 78: Yeltsin's Grocery Revolution

Episode 78: Yeltsin's Grocery Revolution

From Tracing The Path: The Connected 20th Century by Dan R. Morris - 20th Century Historian

April 30, 2026 · 40 min · Season 1 · Episode 78

About this episode

This episode explores the transformative moment for Boris Yeltsin during his 1989 visit to a grocery store in Texas.

When Boris Yeltsin came to the United States in 1989 to speak, visit with the President and see the Statue of Liberty, his entire outlook on the world changed in one :20 minute moment. But it wasn't NYC or Miami or President Bush. It was Randall's Grocery Store in Webster Texas. This is the story of the history of that moment. In this episode we cross paths with Marjorie Merriwether Post, IBM, Spectra-Physics, Wrigley's Gum, James J. Hill, Clarence Saudners, Williams Leslie Maxson, Boris Yeltsin and Grape Nuts.

People in this episode

Host: Dan R. Morris

Topics covered

  • Boris Yeltsin
  • Grocery Revolution
  • 1989 US visit
  • Cultural exchange
  • History of grocery stores

Keywords

  • Boris Yeltsin
  • grocery store
  • 1989
  • US visit
  • history
  • Cultural exchange

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IBM, Spectra-Physics, Wrigley's Gum

Places: Webster Texas, United States, Statue of Liberty

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