Nikita Khrushchev, Premier of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, emerged as a prominent figure known for his bold and sometimes impulsive leadership. Assuming power after Stalin's death in 1953, Khrushchev initiated a period of de-Stalinization, denouncing Stalin's brutal policies and initiating reforms aimed at liberalizing the Soviet regime. His famous "Secret Speech" in 1956 exposed Stalin's crimes, marking a turning point in Soviet history. Khrushchev's tenure was also marked by significant international events, including the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, and the launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957, which sparked the Space Race. Despite his ambitious attempts at economic and political reforms, Khrushchev's leadership was eventually overshadowed by internal power struggles and failures, leading to his removal from office in 1964.
