Letter Rate 10¢ Package Rate 10¢ Postcard Rate 8¢ United States 6/30/1974 Mikhail Baryshnikov Defects to the US Mikhail Baryshnikov, considered one of the world’s greatest ballet dancers, defected from the USSR. He defected in Canada and got political assylum there. He was granted asylum in the US soon after. American President Richard Nixon (1/20/1969-8/9/1974) British Prime Minister Harold Wilson (3/4/1974-4/5/1976) German President Gustav Heinemann (7/1/1969-6/30/1974)