The Soviet premier's two letters

 A new Soviet premier has taken power, and he finds two sealed envelopes in his desk with a note from his predecessor. It says "If things get difficult, open the first letter. If they stay difficult, open the second."

A few years into his reign, the premier is faced with a massive economic crisis, so he opens the first letter. It simply says "Blame everything on me."

This works and the crisis resolves without him being blamed, but a couple years later there's another crisis, so the premier opens the second letter.

Inside, it says "Sit down and write two letters."