Soviet politician Andrei Gromyko joined the Communist Party in 1931. In 1943, he became the Soviet Ambassador to the United States and attended all the important World War II conferences. From 1946-48 he was the chief Soviet delegate to the United Nations, and in 1957, after being Ambassador to Britain and Deputy Foreign Minister, he was appointed Soviet Foreign Minister. He continued as Foreign Minister until 1985, when Gorbachev appointed him to the ceremonial position of Soviet President. Bibliography: Gromyko, Andrei Andrevich. The Memoirs of Andrei Gromyko. 1989. New York: Doubleday.