Detailed text transcripts for TV channel - CNN - 20170807:00:34:00
The economic system was breaking down. >> in a country accustomed to shortages, people are saying they've never had it so bad. >> hardliners did not like the tone of reforms introduced by gorbachev. >> gorbachev's reforms were meant to restore and refresh communism and save the soviet union and actually they had exactly the opposite effect. >> you couldn't reform this economic system. you had to throw it out. gorbachev wasn't willing or able to do that. so it was only a matter of time before the old establishment were going to try to get rid of him. >> his message calling for naonal unity has ...