The USSR also glorified scientists to a degree that is unheard of in the US. While people here grew up with Martin Luther King Ave, the USSR kids grew up with Yuri Gagarin street.

Furthermore, phds were available to people besides wealthy kids or those looking to commit economic suicide.

There were problems with the USSR, but education definitely surpassed US education in the 80s. Furthermore, what Kennedy tried to do with his fitness program was commonplace in the USSR.