Former President of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev died last Tuesday. I was very sad to hear the news as I had just been reading his book What’s Is At Stake Now , a powerful read by a great leader who had seen and experienced more than most people in this world.

I admired Gorbachev greatly and I was honored to have been given his trust a few years ago to deliver a message to President Jimmy Carter, a public birthday greeting to Carter during the 2020 California Jimmy Carter Jamboree event on Marin Television and cohosted by ABC Spencer Christian.

I hope in his death we will find reason to respect him more and also recognize the type of leadership and values he lived by. It’s far more important today than ever before. Rest in peace, great leader.