An American academician went to Moscow for a religious experience that would have been unthinkable only a few months ago: He saw Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev join a group of Christians in prayer.

Lt. Col. Oliver North laid his Bible on the lectern at the National Press Club and quipped that during the Iran-Contra hearings he used to read it and the Washington Post at the start of each day just to find out what both sides were doing.