History UsefulNotes / NikitaKhrushchev

Outside the Soviet Union, the reviews were not good from all those commies who had idealized Stalin, with China's MaoZedong denouncing the speech and Khruschev's de-stalinization initiatives as "revisionist" and a deviation from ideological orthodoxy. Khrushchev also supported a policy of "peaceful coexistence", which was based on the radical notion that blowing up the world would be bad. In the paranoid climate of the Cold War, that sounded like capitulation to China, Albania, and North Korea. Soon, the Sino-Soviet split developed. On the other hand, it allowed Soviet-Yugoslav relations to recover after the Tito-Stalin split (after Khrushchev, ever the happy SentimentalDrunk, got hammered with the rest of the Soviet delegation at a summit in Belgrade and plied Tito and his aides with drink and pleas to "drink up and let bygones be bygones").

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the USSR he was remembered as that ''utter idiot and incompetent'' [[RedsWithRockets who destroyed the Red Army]] and was ''obsessed'' with missiles, practicing an ''absolutely idiotic'' brand of nuclear-blackmail/brinkmanship that nearly killed several hundred million people. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether the shoe-related incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture by introducing corn to the USSR, and the Khruschyovkas, low-quality, very cookie-cutter style apartment buildings that were supposed to be a temporary measure alleviate the housing shortage (they were partially successful in this) until "communism was achieved in 20 years or so". Obviously, this never happened, and many people still live in such buildings today.

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. [[PatrioticFervor A Ukrainian himself]], he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Boychick]]. Finally, it should be noted that, although his efforts to improve the Soviet agriculture mostly failed[[note]]mainly because he attempted to introduce corn to so-called "Virgin Lands" which were unsuited for corn-based agriculture. This caused several tons of topsoil to just erode, making them even MORE unsuited for farming[[/note]], the improved relations with the West allowed to USSR to import grain and finally put a stop to the famines that plagued it since The Russian Civi lWar and the later collectivisation of agriculture in 1929 (and [[WorldWarOne wartime Tsarist Russia]] before that, what with [[HeroicRROD the over-mobilization and goods-shortage crises]]).

The bravest thing Khrushchev did was give his "Secret Speech" to the 20th Party Congress on the 25th of March 1956. In it he denounced Stalin's elevation of himself to godhood, his tyranny, his pettiness, and his incompetence before the entire leadership of the Soviet Union. He had a script, but he got so emotional he couldn't stick to it[[note]] He was a coward. He panicked! ''[[SuddenlyShouting Not once during the whole war did he dare go to the front!]]'' [[/note]]. Even the original transcript, as read out to people by their managers, is said to have reduced some to tears. Of course, Khruschev sidestepped the issue of his own complicity in Stalin's policies, let alone that of his audience which included Mikoyan and Molotov. Yes, ''[[ThoseWackyNazis that]]'' [[WorldWarTwo Molotov]].

The bravest thing Khrushchev did was give his "Secret Speech" to the 20th Party Congress on the 25th of March 1956. In it he denounced Stalin's elevation of himself to godhood, his tyranny, his pettiness, and his incompetence before the entire leadership of the Soviet Union. He had a script, but he got so emotional he couldn't stick to it[[note]] He was a coward. He panicked! ''[[SuddenlyShouting Not once in the whole war did he go to the front!]]'' [[/note]]. Even the original transcript, as read out to people by their managers, is said to have reduced some to tears. Of course, Khruschev sidestepped the issue of his own complicity in Stalin's policies, let alone that of his audience which included Mikoyan and Molotov. Yes, ''[[ThoseWackyNazis that]]'' [[WorldWarTwo Molotov]].

The most notable thing Khrushchev did is almost certainly the "secret speech", in which he denounced Stalin's tyranny, and his subsequent de-Stalinization reforms. Outside the Soviet Union, the reviews were not good from all those commies who had idealized Stalin, with China's MaoZedong denouncing the speech as "revisionist". Khrushchev also supported a policy of "peaceful coexistence", which was based on the radical notion that blowing up the world would be bad. In the paranoid climate of the Cold War, that sounded like capitulation to China, Albania, and North Korea. Soon, the Sino-Soviet split developed. On the other hand, it allowed Soviet-Yugoslav relations to recover after the Tito-Stalin split (after Khrushchev, ever the happy SentimentalDrunk, got hammered with the rest of the Soviet delegation at a summit in Belgrade and plied Tito and his aides with drink and pleas to "drink up and let bygones be bygones").

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. [[PatrioticFervor A Ukrainian himself]], he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Boychick]]. Finally, it should be noted that, although his efforts to improve the Soviet agriculture mostly failed[[note]]mainly because he attempted to introduce corn to so-called "Virgin Lands" which were unsuited for corn-based agriculture. This caused several tons of topsoil to just erode, making them even MORE unsuited for farming[[/note]], the improved relations with the West allowed to USSR to import grain and finally put a stop to the famines that plagued it since its founding (and Tsarist Russia before that).

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the USSR he was remembered as that ''utter idiot and incompetent'' [[RedsWithRockets who destroyed the Red Army]] and was ''obsessed'' with missiles, practicing an ''absolutely idiotic'' brand of nuclear-blackmail/brinkmanship that nearly killed several hundred million people. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether the shoe-related incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture, and the Khruschyovkas, low-quality, very cookie-cutter style apartment buildings that were supposed to be a temporary measure alleviate the housing shortage (they were partially successful in this) until "communism was achieved in 20 years or so". Obviously, this never happened, and many people still live in such buildings today.

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. [[PatrioticFervor A Ukrainian himself]], he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Boychick]]. Finally, it should be noted that, although his efforts to improve the Soviet agriculture mostly failed, the improved relations with the West allowed to USSR to import grain and finally put a stop to the famines that plagued it since its founding (and Tsarist Russia before that).

* WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons: In ''Das Bus'' the Springfield children hold a Junior United Nations meeting which ends in fighting. Principal Skinner restores the order by banging with his shoe on the table.

The most notable thing Khrushchev did is almost certainly the "secret speech", in which he denounced Stalin's tyranny, and his subsequent de-Stalinization reforms. Outside the Soviet Union, the reviews were not good from all those commies who had idealized Stalin, with China's MaoZedong denouncing the speech as "revisionist". Khrushchev also supported a policy of "peaceful coexistence", which was based on the radical notion that blowing up the world would be bad. In the paranoid climate of the Cold War, that sounded like capitulation to China, Albania, and North Korea. Soon, the Sino-Soviet split developed. On the other hand, it allowed Soviet-Yugoslav relations to recover after the Tito-Stalin split.

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the USSR he was rememberd as that ''utter idiot and incompetent'' [[RedsWithRockets who destroyed the Red Army]] and was ''obsessed'' with missiles, practising an ''absolutely idiotic'' brand of nuclear-blackmail/brinkmanship that nearly killed several hundred million people. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether the shoe-related incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture, and the Khruschyovkas, low-quality, very cookie-cutter style apartment buildings that were supposed to be a temporary measure alleviate the housing shortage (they were partially successful in this) until "communism was achieved in 20 years or so". Obviously, this never happened, and many people still live in such buildings today.

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the USSR he was rememberd as that ''utter idiot and incompetent'' [[RedsWithRockets who destroyed the Red Army]] and was ''obsessed'' with missiles, practising an ''absolutely idiotic'' brand of nuclear-blackmail that nearly killed several hundred million people. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether the shoe-related incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture, and the Khruschyovkas, low-quality, very cookie-cutter style apartment buildings that were supposed to be a temporary measure alleviate the housing shortage (they were partially successful in this) until "communism was achieved in 20 years or so". Obviously, this never happened, and many people still live in such buildings today.

He's also remembered for his role in the Cuban missile crisis, traditionally as the "loser" to UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. However, Khrushchev didn't make it out of that confrontation as badly as it initially seems, due to a secret deal to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet missiles in Cuba. But since that deal was, you know, secret, Khrushchev couldn't use it to fight the impression that he was incompetent. In the end, he was deposed by more hardline rivals, making him and UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev the only Soviet leaders to leave office before their deaths. If sources are to be believed, the man could be embarrassingly free-spoken and honest about things, something which actually annoyed his own secret police. May be a reason why the other leaders decided to remove him.

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether that incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture, and the Khruschyovkas, low-quality, very cookie-cutter style apartment buildings that were supposed to be a temporary measure alleviate the housing shortage (they were partially successful in this) until "communism was achieved in 20 years or so". Obviously, this never happened, and many people still live in such buildings today.

-- Nikita Khrushchev[[note]]Somewhat LostInTranslation. He meant the U.S.S.R. would outlast the U.S. and thus dig its grave, [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp which obviously didn't happen]].[[/note]]

* He's played by Bob Hoskins in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', which exaggerates his role in the Battle of Stalingrad for the sake of YoungFutureFamousPeople.

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether that incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture.

The most notable thing Khrushchev did is almost certainly the "secret speech", in which he denounced Stalin's tyranny, and his subsequent de-Stalinization reforms. Outside the Soviet Union, the reviews were not good from all those commies who had idealized Stalin, with China's MaoZedong denouncing the speech as "revisionist". Khrushchev also supported a policy of "peaceful coexistence", which was based on the radical notion that blowing up the world would be bad. In the paranoid climate of the Cold War, that sounded like capitulation to China, Albania, and North Korea. Soon, the Sino-Soviet split developed.

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. [[PatrioticFervor A Ukrainian himself]], he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Boychick]].

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. [[BoomerangBigot A Ukrainian himself]], he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice Job Breaking It, Boychick]].

Other notable events of his time in power include the launching of ''Sputnik'' and {{Yuri Gagarin}}'s orbit around the Earth. On a less positive note, he crushed the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and oversaw the construction of the UsefulNotes/BerlinWall. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. A Ukrainian himself, he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. NiceJobBreakingItHero.

* The 'crafty' side of Khrushchev is given center stage in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid3SnakeEater''. He eventually [[TheCalvary comes to the heroes' rescue]] by calling off his [=MiG=] aircraft, allowing them safe passage to Alaska.

* He's played by Bob Hoskins in ''Film/EnemyAtTheGates'', which exaggerates his role in the Battle of Stalingrad for the sake of YoungFutureFamousPeople.

Khrushchev was the guy who led the Soviet Union after JosefStalin. In the West, he's remembered as a hotheaded buffoon who pounded his shoe on a table at the UsefulNotes/UnitedNations. Whether that incident really happened is a matter of some debate, but it's become a symbol of the UsefulNotes/ColdWar anyway. In Russia, he's remembered for his domestic work, particularly his (failed) efforts to improve Soviet agriculture.

He's also remembered for his role in the Cuban missile crisis, traditionally as the "loser" to UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. However, Khrushchev didn't make it out of that confrontation as badly as it initially seems, due to a secret deal to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet missiles in Cuba. But since that deal was, you know, secret, Khrushchev couldn't use it to fight the impression that he was incompetent. In the end, he was deposed by more hardline rivals, making him and MikhailGorbachev the only Soviet leaders to leave office before their deaths. If sources are to be believed, the man could be embarrassingly free-spoken and honest about things, something which actually annoyed his own secret police. May be a reason why the other leaders decided to remove him.

He's also remembered for his role in the Cuban missile crisis, traditionally as the "loser" to UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. However, Khrushchev didn't make it out of that confrontation as badly as it initially seems, due to a secret deal to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet missiles in Cuba. But since that deal was, you know, secret, Khrushchev couldn't use it to fight the impression that he was incompetent. In the end, he was deposed by more hardline rivals, making him and MikhailGorbachev the only Soviet leaders to be removed from office before their deaths. If sources are to be believed, the man could be embarassingly free-spoken and honest about things, something which actually annoyed his own secret police. May be a reason why the other leaders decided to remove him.

Also, he and UsefulNotes/RichardNixon had some sort of fight in a kitchen or something. And yes, he is partly to blame for the recent tumults in Ukraine. A Ukranian himself, he found it prudent to give away Crimea to the Ukranian Soviet Republic in 1953. NiceJobBreakingItHero.

Also, he and UsefulNotes/RichardNixon had some sort of fight in a kitchen or something.

He's also remembered for his role in the Cuban missile crisis, traditionally as the "loser" to UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy. However, Khrushchev didn't make it out of that confrontation as badly as it initially seems, due to a secret deal to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for the Soviet missiles in Cuba. But since that deal was, you know, secret, Khrushchev couldn't use it to fight the impression that he was incompetent. In the end, he was deposed by more hardline rivals, making him and MikhailGorbachev the only Soviet leaders to be removed from office before their deaths.

Also, he and UsefulNotes/RichardNixon had some sort of fight in a kitchen or something.

-- Nikita Khrushchev[[note]]Somewhat LostInTranslation. He meant the U.S.S.R. would outlast to U.S. and thus dig its grave, [[TheGreatPoliticsMessUp which obviously didn't happen]].[[/note]]