KHRUSHCHEV 'LOSES HIS COOL' AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
New York City (JFK+50) According to some sources, Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev* protested a speech critical of the U.S.S.R., at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on October 12, 1960, by taking off his shoe and pounding it on his delegate desk.
This event, one of the most bizarre of the Cold War era, is listed as one of top U.N. General Assembly moments by Time Magazine.
Did it really happen?
Well, like so often in historical accounts, there are differences of opinion. Some say yes, some no, some perhaps. According to a U.N. website video "the shoe never appears in UN media coverage."
Despite this, according to Time's Frances Romero, the most frequent question asked of U.N. tour guides is,,,
"Where was Khrushchev sitting when he pounded his shoe?"
JFK+50 NOTE
Khrushchev objected to a speech by Philippine delegate Lorenzo Sumulong who said "The people of Eastern Europe have been deprived of the free exercise of their civic & political rights which have been swallowed up...by the Soviet Union."
UN General Assembly president Frederick Boland of Ireland broke his gavel in an attempt to restore order during Khrushchev's alleged outburst.
*Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) was born in Kalinovka, Russia & served as First Secretary of the Communist Party (USSR) 1953-1964 & as Chairman of the Council of Ministers (USSR) 1958-1964.
SOURCES
"Khrushchev Loses His Cool," Top U.N. General Assembly Moments by Frances Romero, Time Magazine, www.content.time.com/
Khrushchev Pounds Shoe At UN," JFK+50, October 12, 2011, www.jfk50.blogspot.com/
"Stories From the U.N. Archive," United Nations, www.news.un.org/
.jpg)
