Nikita Sergeivich Khrushchev was a Soviet politician, Red Army soldier, and First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union following the death of Soviet leader Josef Stalin in 1953, which was one of the most pivotal eras in Russian history. Born to Russian peasant parents in the village of Kalinovka in 1894, young Khrushchev was one of the millions of young Russian factory workers during World War I who became involved in revolutionary activities. Following the Bolshevik revolution in late 1917, he joined the Red Army. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1918 and was assigned to management positions around Russia. In 1931 Moscow called, and he became the First Secretary of the Moscow City Committee.This position was typical of others designed to train future Party leaders. In 1938 he became the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine. Such an achievement pointed to future national political success. In 1939 he became a member of the Politburo. During World War II Khrushchev attained the rank of Lieutenant General, or political commissar as the position is termed in Russian. Later in the war he served as the senior political officer in the southern region of the Soviet Union. He was an obedient Stalinist, marching to party orders.Such devotion earned him the nickname "The Butcher of the Ukraine."

Something interesting happened following the death of Stalin in 1953. As expected, there was an intense power struggle upon Stalin's demise, since Stalin had ruled the Soviet Union with an iron fist for more than twenty-five years. A number of powerful politicians rallied around and promoted Khrushchev as the next leader of the Party. Once he achieved that position he began denouncing all things Stalinist. This was a pivotal moment in Russian history, for Khrushchev's leadership brought on a vital change in the way Soviet citizens saw themselves and their country, as well as how the rest of the world perceived the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most important moment of Khrushchev's early years on the national stage was the 1956 "Secret Speech," which exposed and denounced the Stalinistic "cult of personality." Many of Stalins more outrageous crimes were revealed to the entire world via Khrushchev's speech. This was a bold move on the part of Khrushchev, as there were numerous powerful individuals and groups who desired to continue with the Stalinistic status quo. His popularity and power prevailed, and in 1958 he became prime minister. Only weeks later he was named Premier of the Soviet Union.

In this position as prime minister, Khrushchev began a series of major and wide-sweeping reforms, now known is "The Thaw." It was during this period that the Soviet Union switched from heavy industrial development to the production of consumer goods so popular in the west. Artists and writers who had previously created works "for the drawer" out of fear of punishment, were suddenly allowed to publish and exhibit. Khrushchev also heavily promoted the development of rocket technology, which led to the "space race" between the Soviet Union and the United States. American leaders were watching the sweeping reforms of the Soviet Union with great interest and concern. He traveled to the United States to meet with President Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, and other American political leaders. Khrushchev is famously remembered for his encounter with then-Vice-President Richard Nixon in what became known as the Kitchen Debates. Their conversation took place at an exhibition of American consumer goods and technology. Khrushchev strived to change the relationship between the two great powers by insisting that the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. were merely friendly rivals and not bitter enemies.

During his first visit to the U.S., Khrushchev asked to visit Disneyland and meet actor John Wayne. Disney denied him entry to the famous theme park. At least part of Disney's decision may have had to do with Khrushchev's notorious behavior during a 1960 session of the United Nations, where he disrupted proceedings by shouting, banging his fists on the table, and once banging his shoe to make a point. On another occasion during the same period, Khrushchev made his most famous remark, directed towards the United States. The Russian phrase, "My vas pokhoronim!" is difficult to translate, but was transmitted to the American people and around the world as "We will bury you." Later Khrushchev stated his remark had been misinterpreted and that what he actually suggested was that the American working class will one day bury capitalism. In 1961 Khrushchev offered his approval to German leaders in the building of the Berlin Wall, which only deepened the Cold War between the east and west. His self-designated role of friendly rival to the U.S. became even more unconvincing as the Cuban Missle Crisis escalated. His forceful personality was equally unpopular at home in Russia, and after numerous accusations of mismanagement and 'bad behavior,' Khrushchev was forced out of power in 1964.

Khrushchev spent the remainder of his life living quietly in Moscow, and died of a heart attack in 1971. Due to being ousted from office, he was denied burial behind the Kremlin Wall, and rests in the Nova D'yevichy Cemetery in Moscow. He married three times during his life and had five children. He was married to his third wife, Nina Petrovna Kukharchuk longer than the others. Their son, Sergei, emigrated to the United States, attained citizenship there, and is now a Professor at Brown University.

Image: Kruschev's potrait.