The Death of Lenin

Lenin suffered a major stroke in the early part of 1923. A stroke is a medical condition termed as a "brain attack" because it is similar to a heart attack. During a stroke, the brain is damaged due to a lack of blood reaching this vital part of the body. He suffered another massive stroke in the later part of 1923 that all but ended his life.

While recovering, Lenin began to struggle with the problem of who would rplace him and carry the revolution forward. Although ill, he took the time to write a letter discussing the possible candidates for his position. Several men wanted his job, including Trotsky and Stalin. Lenin was not in favor of Stalin as his replacement stating:

Comrade Stalin, having become Secretary has unlimited authority concentrated in his hands, and I am not sure whether he will always be capable of using that authority with sufficient caution.

Shortly after, Lenin added to his original letter a further assessment of Stalin:

"Stalin is too rude and this defect…is intolerable in a Secretary General. That is why I suggest that comrades think about a way of removing Stalin from his post and appointing another man in his stead who…is more tolerant, more loyal, more polite and more considerate to his comrades."

Lenin was much more supportive of Trotsky as his replacement, citing his work for the party:

"Comrade Trotsky, on the other hand…is distinguished not only by his outstanding ability - He is personally perhaps the most capable man in the present Central Committee, but he has displayed excessive self-assurance and shown excessive preoccupation with the purely administrative side of the work."

Lenin died inJanuary 1924 due to complication from the strokes he had suffered. Stalin led the Party in making sure that Lenin was treated like a hero of the people and personally took charge of all funeral arrangements. Stalin made his presence felt by attending all-important functions to show that he was in charge. Stalin also took the precaution of telling Trotsky to wrong date of the funeral to make him look bad in the eyes of the party. Things looked bright for Stalin to assume leadership of the Party, but he was unaware of Lenin's damning letter.