The NKGB, referenced by Claudia as the agency where she first worked with Zhukov "after the war," existed for only three years (1943-46) as one of the KGB's six predecessor security agencies for the Soviet Union. The war-time NKGB (People's Commissariat for State Security) was reconstituted as the MGB (Ministry for State Security), which in 1954 became the KGB (Committee for State Security) until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1992.
This episode was submitted by Margo Martindale for 2013 Emmy Consideration in the category of Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
Game Five of the Stanley Cup finals took place on May 21, 1981. That means the time-line of this episode is Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22, 1981.
James Baker was the White House Chief of Staff and United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Ronald Reagan.