How the US nearly turned to Bob Dylan to destroy communism Communications from the US Embassy in Moscow, published by Wikileaks, suggested sending high profile rock and country music acts on tour, and also named artists Neil Young, Crosby Still & Nash and Carly Simon as potential performers to be approached. In a memo sent to Washington in January 1975, headed "Cultural Presentations: Popular Music Group," the US Ambassador in Moscow Walter Stoessel Jr wrote: "Soul genre not of top interest here, and suggest priority consideration be given to soft rock, blues/rock or country rock." In a follow up communication he said: "Previous country music efforts have succeeded in establishing acceptability of this genre and we believe time is right to expand musical horizons even further. Soft rock group or artist is logical next step, with possibility of country music group for 1976. Stoessel said he believed "top performers who are both eminent in the field and genuinely creative artists should be approached first before considering ones of lesser stature and perhaps less creative talent." He said that in addition to Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Don McLean and Joni Mitchell, who had already been discussed, he wished to suggest Neil Young, Crosby Stills & Nash, Carly Simon and Carole King "all with appropriate back-up groups." Other suggestions included Lynyrd Skynyrd and rock band Cactus. The communications were among more than 1.7 million US diplomatic and intelligence documents published by WikiLeaks. They dating from the beginning of 1973 to the end of 1976 and were not leaked, but are held in the US national archives. Many of the communications were sent by or to then US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Some were originally marked as secret.