PERSONALITIES

By Cristina Del Sesto
Washington Post, February 28, 1987
Saturday, February 28, 1987; Page G03

Gorbachev's Plea

In a gesture of USSR public relations, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev urged American physicist Charles Hyder yesterday to end the hunger strike he began in September for nuclear disarmament. Hyder and his sign, "Fasting Physicist," can often be found in Lafayette Park. He weighed approximately 310 pounds on Sept. 23 and he has lost 150 pounds in the months since. The Soviet Embassy said yesterday that Gorbachev had cautioned Hyder: "Your spiritual strength is needed to continue the struggle for preventing a nuclear catastrophe. For this reason, we urge you to stop your hunger strike."