Joseph Stalin was born Josef Vissarionovich Djugashvili, who later took the name Stalin, meaning "man of steel". Stalin was an only child and grew up poor. This led to him being expelled from school and becoming increasingly interested in Russian politics. Joseph Stalin later became an important person in the future of the Soviet Union as a future dictator. While Stalin did some great and perhaps wonderful things during his years as dictator of the Soviet Union, he still did many other horrible things to surpass the good he did. The myth that Joseph Stalin had been a good leader and had done more good than harm during his 24 years of rule as dictator is false. Although some perceived Joseph Stalin as a good leader of the Soviet Union, some of the people Stalin had ruled liked and did not see him as a bad person or leader. “He (Stalin) was a great popular leader. No amount of revelation about what he did will change my mind” (Walters “Untitled Document). This perception of his greatness is still displayed in Russia today, a recent poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Foundation shows that 36% of Russians still believe that Joseph Stalin did more good than harm during his rule. Stalin had appeared to many as a father figure and a peaceful man. “The myth that Stalin was a benevolent leader, a great modernizer and reformer, and a national savior of the peoples of the Soviet Union has proven as enduring as the man himself” (Walters). That's what he wanted, for people to look up to him and trust him as a leader. As proof of his good leadership, he had been nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize, both in 1945 and 1948, due to his involvement in ending the Second World War. Although he never won in either nomination, the people who favored him still perceive him as a great man. Stalin also received Time magazine's Person of the Year title twice, in 1939 and in 1939