Nikita Krushchev
Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev publicized Stalin's crimes, was a major player in the Cuban Missile Crisis and established a more open form of Communism in the USSR.
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev (15 April 1894 – 11 September 1971) was the leader of the Soviet Union after the death of Joseph Stalin. He ruled from 1953–1964.
Nikita was born in the town of Kalinovka in Russia. He later moved to Ukraine. He worked in mines, and became part of the Bolshevik movement. He moved his way up in the Communist Party, eventually becoming trusted by Joseph Stalin. In the years after Stalin died, Khrushchev became the leader of the Soviet Union.
He died of heart disease on 11 September 1971.
Published on Sep 27, 2015
It was 56 years ago today when Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev departed for Moscow following a whirlwind 13-day visit to the United States. Khrushchev's trip was an effort by both countries to ease Cold War tensions, but as it happened, not everything was "okay" during his tour. Charles Osgood reports