Alexander Yakovlev was a prominent Soviet politician and a key figure in the reform movement during the late 20th century. Born on December 16, 1923, he played a significant role in the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev, particularly in promoting the ideas of glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) that aimed to modernize the Soviet Union. Yakovlev served as the Soviet ambassador to Canada and later became a member of the Politburo. He was instrumental in shaping the political landscape of the USSR, advocating for greater freedom of expression and a more open society, which ultimately contributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.