Samantha Smith

Samantha Reed Smith (June 29, 1972 – August 25, 1985) was an American schoolgirl, peace activist, and child actress. She became famous during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.

Samantha Smith
Smith visiting the Artek pioneer camp in July 1983
Born	Samantha Reed Smith (1972-06-29)June 29, 1972 Houlton, Maine, U.S.
Died	August 25, 1985(1985-08-25) (aged 13) Auburn, Maine, U.S.
Cause of death	Airplane crash
Resting place	Ashes buried at Estabrook Cemetery, Amity, Maine, U.S.
Other names	America's Youngest Ambassador, America's Littlest Diplomat, America's Sweetheart[1] (U.S.), The Goodwill Ambassador (USSR)
Occupation(s)	Peace activist, child actress
Years active	1982–1985

In 1982, Smith wrote a letter to Soviet Leader Yuri Andropov, and received a personal reply with a personal invitation to visit the Soviet Union, which she accepted.

Smith became a "Goodwill Ambassador" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, becoming America's Youngest Ambassador.^[2]

Smith died on August 25, 1985 in the Bar Harbor Airlines Flight 1808 plane crash near Auburn, Maine at the age of 13.^[3]