During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the head of the Soviet Union was Nikita Khrushchev. His decisions during this tense period were pivotal in shaping the Cold War dynamics. Khrushchev's placement of nuclear missiles in Cuba was largely a strategic move to counteract American nuclear installations near Soviet borders, showcasing the intense geopolitical struggle. The standoff between Khrushchev and U.S. President John F. Kennedy highlighted the brinkmanship characteristic of the Cold War era, ultimately leading to a negotiated settlement that diffused one of the most dangerous confrontations of the time.