“For the Good of the City, I’m Ready to Bow to the Devil”: the Head of the Leningrad City Council N. I. Smirnov during the Thaw (1954–1962)

The article explores the life and activities of the prominent regional economic manager Nikolai Smirnov (1906–1962), who served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Leningrad City Council in 1954–1962. Smirnov was a colorful and talented person. At the same time, he did much for the development of the urban economy. He had to work in difficult conditions of interaction of the city with the capital's structures, especially defects of the planning and distribution system. Smirnov proved himself a loyal supporter of Khrushchev, and he skillfully used the support of the leader. Smirnov strove for a simple and democratic style of communication with his subordinates and was humane and accessible. Close attention is paid to the use of nomenklatura methods of work, based on personal connections in central planning and distribution structures. A product of his time, Smirnov was able to defend the city’s interests and to make a worthy contribution to improving the daily life of Leningrad’s people. During his leadership, Smirnov addressed such important issues as the deployment of mass housing construction, the solution of a number of social problems of Leningrad’s residents, the celebration of the 250th anniversary of Leningrad, some “lifting” of the Iron Curtain, and the investigation of several large criminal communities operating in trade