First Read is your briefing from “Meet the Press” and the NBC Political Unit on the day’s most meet bob russian political stories and why they matter. More than 300 events, more than 100 people and organizations, spanning more than ten years. Reporting and analysis for the 2020 presidential elections, including data points, national trends, updates and more from the NBC News political unit.

Special counsel Robert Mueller assembled a team of lawyers for his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The investigation has already led to charges against 35 people and entities, including four associates of President Donald Trump. Mueller brought on private-sector attorneys and prosecutors from the Department of Justice. Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report. Following up on their successful November 1985 summit meeting in Geneva, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev meet in Reykjavik, Iceland, to continue discussions about curbing their intermediate missile arsenals in Europe. Just when it appeared that agreement might be reached, the talks fell apart amid accusations and recriminations, and U. Soviet relations took a giant step backwards.

SDI was one of Reagan’s pet projects. Pope opens Vatican IIPope John XXIII convenes an ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church—the first in 92 years. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. By the time it ended, 5,000 people were dead.