In this episode of American Potential, host David From sits down with Rimantas Jurcucius, who grew up in Lithuania under Soviet control and now lives in Wisconsin, to share his firsthand experience of life under communism.
Rimantas describes growing up in a system where private property was taken away, basic goods were often difficult to find, government-run stores had empty shelves, and Communist Party connections could determine everything from career opportunities to access to better products and healthcare. He also shares his family’s painful history, including his mother being forcibly sent to Siberia as a child under Stalin.
A talented track athlete, Rimantas became a Soviet Union champion and served in the Soviet military before eventually coming to the United States in 1992 with just $130 in his pocket. He shares how an American company gave him an opportunity despite not speaking English—and how, 32 years later, he retired after eventually running that same company.
Today, Rimantas is sharing his story with Americans to explain the realities of the system he experienced and why he believes freedom and opportunity are at the heart of the American Dream.
