www.SamanthaSmith.info

This site is dedicated to the life and memory of Samantha Smith, America’s youngest ambassador.

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In November 1982, at the height of the Cold War, ten-year-old Samantha Smith from Manchester, Maine, wrote a letter to Soviet leader Yuri Andropov, asking if he intended to start a nuclear war with the United States. In a remarkable and historic gesture, Andropov replied—and invited her to visit the Soviet Union. Samantha and her family accepted, embarking on a goodwill journey that captured international attention and brought a human face to diplomacy during one of the most tense periods in modern history.

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Tragically, Samantha’s life was cut short on a rainy August night in 1985 when the commercial plane she was in crashed killing all on board. She was just thirteen.

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For many years, the Samantha Smith Foundation, started by her mother Jane Smith, carried forward Samantha's message of peace and friendship. Now, this site continues that work—preserving Samantha’s story, celebrating her legacy, and inspiring new generations to believe in the power of one voice to change the world.