MIKHAIL GORBACHEV
Mikhail Gorbachev was the successor to Brezhnev and the last leader of Soviet Russia. He was in office from 1985 to 1991. HE signed treaties with the United States and pulled troops from Afghanistan. HE also attempted at reform. However, his reform backfired and he brought economic turmoil to the Soviet Union. During his rule, countries in Eastern Europe broke from communist influence. He resigned as presudent in 1991 after a coup and Soviet republics were declaring independence.