Editing Leonard Bernstein (section)

=== Rostropovich and the Soviet Union ===
Bernstein played a key role in the release of renowned cellist and conductor [[Mstislav Rostropovich]] from the [[USSR]] in 1974. Rostropovich, a strong believer in free speech and democracy, had been officially held in disgrace; his concerts and tours both at home and abroad cancelled; and in 1972 he was prohibited to travel outside of the Soviet Union. During a trip to the USSR in 1974, U.S. Senator from Massachusetts [[Ted Kennedy]] and his wife [[Joan Bennett Kennedy|Joan]], urged by Bernstein and others in the cultural sphere, mentioned Rostropovich's situation to [[Leonid Brezhnev]], the Soviet Union Communist Party Leader. Two days later, Rostropovich was granted his exit visa.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Joan |title=The Joy of Classical Music: A Guide for You and Your Family |date=September 1, 1994 |publisher=Main Street Books |isbn=978-0-385-41263-6 |edition=Reissue |location=New York |author-link=Joan Bennett Kennedy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Kennedy |first=Edward M. |url=https://archive.org/details/truecompassmemoi00kenn |title=True Compass : A Memoir |date=2009 |publisher=Twelve |isbn=978-0-446-53925-8 |edition=1st |location=New York |oclc=434905205 |author-link=Ted Kennedy}}</ref>