What is Nikita Khrushchev famous for?

Nikita Khrushchev was the premier of Russia from 1958 to 1964, during the Cold War era. He played a large role in the Cuban Missile Crisis, as well as the de-Stalinization of Russia. He also approved the construction of the Berlin Wall.

Khrushchev came to power in Russia directly after Joseph Stalin. He was a member of the Communist Party, but carried a more humanist view than Stalin. He oversaw the release of many political prisoners from the Gulag work camps. While Khrushchev stated that he wanted to achieve peaceful relations with the United States, his public speeches and comments were often combative towards the West.