Nikita Khrushchev

Born: 17 April 1894 Birthplace: Kalinovka, Kursk Death: 11 September 1971 Best Known As: Leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, 1958-64 Born a Ukrainian peasant, Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev joined the Communist party in 1918 and rose through the ranks to become a member of its central committee by 1934. He had a close connection to Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, and after Stalin's death Khrushchev emerged as the new leader. In 1956 he began to denounce the policies of Stalin and attempted to ease relations with the United States (in 1959 he toured the U.S. and met with President Eisenhower). When a U.S. spy plane was shot down over Russia the next year, Khrushchev became more belligerent. He also grabbed the attention of the world by pounding his shoe on the conference table at the United Nations. In 1962 he was forced to back down to President John F. Kennedy over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Further domestic and foreign relations disasters led to his replacement in 1964 by Leonid Brezhnev.