3. To Y. M. SVERDLOV

Written not earlier than November 8 (21), 1917 · First published in 1957 in the journal Istorichesky Arkhiv No. 5. Printed from the original. · page 44

Comrade Sverdlov

The bearer has a mandate from the local Soviet.

He wants to work in Petrograd.

Makes an excellent impression.

He wants “militant” work among the masses (as agitator, etc.).

I strongly advise you to give him an opportunity at once to prove his worth in work among the masses in Petrograd.^[1]

Lenin

Notes

[1] The letter to Y. M. Sverdlov apparently concerns F. F. Obraztsov, who had been received by Lenin as the representative from the peasants of four volosts of Tver Gubernia.

At the top of the letter, Lenin wrote the words: “First floor, room 39.” This was the room in Smolny where Y. M. Sverdlov worked after his election on November 8 (21), 1917, as Chairman of the All-Russia Central Executive Committee.