She Knew What Was Coming

By DAVID ELLIS

RAISA GORBACHEV'S apparent nervous breakdown did not surprise top Soviet analysts. The normally vigorous First Lady was showing signs of tension when she accompanied her husband to the London economic summit in July. Drawing aside Barbara Bush, Raisa confided her worries about Mikhail's political future, even hinting that she feared for his life. Soviet officials in Europe report that she became hysterical several times during her Crimean captivity, and speculate that she has suffered a stroke and a heart attack.

With reporting by Sidney Urquhart