12. "The Iron Lady" Tag Which Came To Be Associated With Thatcher Was First Coined By A Soviet Journalist
After Thatcher made a speech in January 1976 at Kensington Town Hall attacking the Soviet Union, she earned her famous nickname of the "Iron Lady". Soviet Defence Ministry newspaper
Krasnaya Zvezda ("Red Star") gave her this nickname after Thatcher said:
"The Russians are bent on world dominance, and they are rapidly acquiring the means to become the most-powerful imperial nation the world has seen. The men in the Soviet Politburo do not have to worry about the ebb and flow of public opinion. They put guns before butter, while we put just about everything before guns."
Despite its intention as a negative nickname, Thatcher embraced it - believing it showed her strength in the face of Communism and as a leader.