Robert Charles Tucker was an eminent American political scientist and historian, renowned for his scholarly work on the Soviet Union and Marxism. Born on May 29, 1918, Tucker is best remembered for his in-depth biographies of Joseph Stalin, where he employed a psychological lens to interpret Stalin's rise to power and governance style.

Tucker pursued his studies at Harvard University, where he focused on philosophy. During his academic journey, he spent two significant years in Moscow working as a translator for the United States Embassy. This period was crucial, not only for his academic development but also personally, as he met his future wife, Evgeniya Pestretsova.

Upon returning to the United States in 1946, Tucker faced challenges obtaining an exit visa for his wife, a hurdle that profoundly influenced his subsequent studies. After completing his dissertation, he contributed his expertise at the RAND Corporation and later shared his knowledge as an educator at Indiana University.

His analytical prowess is showcased in his extensive writing on Marxism and Stalinism, especially his two-volume biography of Joseph Stalin, which remains a seminal work for understanding the Soviet political system. Tucker's work is celebrated for portraying the Soviet political system as dynamic, challenging prevailing notions of its static nature.