Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Transmission

Obama: Alaska Was 'Pretty Good Deal'

x
TEXT SIZE - +

July 07, 2009

MOSCOW, July 7 (Reuters) -- Visiting U.S. President Barack Obama made a pointed quip on Tuesday about Russia's sale of Alaska to the United States in the 19th century.

Referring to the long history of Russia-U.S. trade stretching back more than two centuries, Obama told an audience of business people in Moscow:

"Along the way, you gave us a pretty good deal on Alaska. Thank you."

Tsar Alexander II's sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold, around 1.9 cents per acre, was regarded by Russians as a national disgrace -- particularly once it became clear that the province was rich in oil.

Moscow was short of cash at the time.

-- Luke Allnutt

Tags: alaska , Russia

This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Comments
     
by: VytautasBa from: vilnius
July 09, 2009 07:30
Not a good idea to remind Russia that Alaska was once part of their territory. The Russian leadership believes in the power of geography.

About This Blog

Written by RFE/RL editors and correspondents, Transmission serves up news, comment, and the odd silly dictator story. While our primary concern is with foreign policy, Transmission is also a place for the ideas -- some serious, some irreverent -- that bubble up from our bureaus. The name recognizes RFE/RL's role as a surrogate broadcaster to places without free media. You can write us at transmission+rferl.org