This Soviet Leader Was Barred From Visiting Disneyland For One Bizarre Reason
The date was September 15, 1959, when Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev arrived in the United States with his wife. At a time when Cold War tension between the United States and the USSR was at boiling point, Khrushchev's tour of America seemed to come at an opportune moment, especially since a personal meeting with President Eisenhower awaited the Communist Party First Secretary at the end. But what started as an enjoyable and promising trip soon turned sour, with one ludicrous moment resulting in Khrushchev's visit to Disneyland being canceled — and the rest of his time in America taking an ugly downward turn.
A Warm Welcome
As Soviet Premier Khrushchev landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland with his wife and children, a warm welcome awaited him. With hundreds of onlookers in attendance, American President Eisenhower greeted the family, and Krushchev thanked him for his hospitality. While it seemed as if there may have finally been a glimmer of hope for peace, this feeling didn't last long.
White House Reception
That night, Khrushchev attended an elegant dinner at the White House, during which both the Soviet Premier and Eisenhower gave speeches about their hope for understanding between the two nations. This was followed by a meeting in the Oval Office when Khrushchev gave Eisenhower a replica of the Lunik II space probe that had landed on the moon the previous day. Already, the two were getting competitive.
The Big Apple
Over the next few days, Khrushchev and his family took in the sights and sounds of New York City. After being greeted by Big Apple Mayor Robert F. Wagner, the Krushchevs enjoyed gatherings with the Economic Club of New York, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, and the United Nations General Assembly. After a tour of Manhattan, Khrushchev would be on a flight to sunny Los Angeles — towards Walt Disney's incredible new theme park.
Brutal Honesty
Despite his initial politeness, Khrushchev exhibited his unfiltered opinions throughout his trip. As Eleanor Roosevelt recalled during their meeting "He enjoyed nothing. A man behind him all the time kept whispering, 'Seven minutes, seven minutes.'" After seeing the Empire State building, an unimpressed Khrushchev proclaimed, "If you've seen one skyscraper, you've seen them all." But what did Americans think of this Soviet leader?
