1972 -1985. In 1982, Manchester native Samantha Smith captured the hearts of the world when she expressed her fears of the possible threat of nuclear holocaust in a now famous letter to Soviet Premier Yuri Andropov. Touched by the sincerity of this young Maine girl's letter, Andropov invited Smith to visit the Soviet Union, making her one of our country's youngest ambassadors for peace. Smith and her father were tragically killed in a plane crash in 1985, however, her legacy of peace and goodwill still lives on.
