In the article the urgent problems of functions and transformation of Soviet regional political elite in 1960-1980s are examined. Preliminary conclusions on the classification of the Soviet regional political elite are made on the basis of oral history method based on the example of Altai Territory. Representatives of "secretarial corps" including secretaries and leaders of the branch departments in the CPSU territorial committees, and also first secretaries of district and city committees, managers of the largest and the most important regional enterprises, "nonpublic" apparatus workers in the CPSU territorial committee, etc belong to the regional political elite of 1960-1980s.