AMERICA WELCOMES SOVIET LEADER
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 15, 1959, Nikita Khrushchev arrived here in the Nation's Capital becoming the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States.
Mr. Khrushchev attended formal receptions after being welcomed at the airport by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and riding in a motorcade downtown. The two leaders then sat down for a 2 1/2 hour discussion.
According to the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, the two-week visit "was cloaked by barely concealed threats and marked by chaos."
After a week of talks with Ike at Camp David, the Premier toured the United States guided by Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge. In Hollywood, Khrushchev seemed to enjoy the performance of the Can-Can by actress Shirley MacLaine and her company of "scantily dressed...young ladies," although Mrs. Khrushchev did not.
SOURCES
"Khrushchev arrives in Washington," This Day in History: September 15, www.history.com/
"Khrushchev Visits America-A Cold War Comedy of Errors, Act I.," Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training," www.adst.org/
Eisenhowers & Khrushchevs
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On September 15, 1959, Nikita Khrushchev arrived here in the Nation's Capital becoming the first Soviet head of state to visit the United States.
Mr. Khrushchev attended formal receptions after being welcomed at the airport by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and riding in a motorcade downtown. The two leaders then sat down for a 2 1/2 hour discussion.
According to the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, the two-week visit "was cloaked by barely concealed threats and marked by chaos."
Most familiar is the Premier's expressed desire to visit Disneyland which was turned down by his hosts because of security concerns.
After a week of talks with Ike at Camp David, the Premier toured the United States guided by Vice-President Henry Cabot Lodge. In Hollywood, Khrushchev seemed to enjoy the performance of the Can-Can by actress Shirley MacLaine and her company of "scantily dressed...young ladies," although Mrs. Khrushchev did not.
SOURCES
"Khrushchev arrives in Washington," This Day in History: September 15, www.history.com/
"Khrushchev Visits America-A Cold War Comedy of Errors, Act I.," Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training," www.adst.org/
Eisenhowers & Khrushchevs
White House State Dinner (1959)
NARA Photo
