Cold War Roadshow

Gr 9 Up—Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev had been angling for an invitation to visit the United States, and finally received it in 1959. The whirlwind two-week tour was meant to mitigate fears during the Cold War and show the human side of a man many Americans distrusted. President Eisenhower welcomed Khrushchev and his family to Washington and handed them off to dignitaries in California and Iowa, before meeting up again at Camp David. Students may marvel at what today seems laughably lax security, as Khrushchev effusively greets people and wades into the crowd. He was by turns charming, brash, pushy, and delighted at the marvels of America. Students may debate if it was his honest good nature or shrewd media savvy. The premier gave as good as he got when the mayor of Los Angeles insulted him, but he was happy to endorse a local frankfurter vendor, and he marveled at an IBM employee cafeteria. Most of the film is comprised of historic news footage, cut with present day interviews and memories from Eisenhower's granddaughter and Khrushchev's son (who is now an American citizen.)