The famous leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War was Nikita Khrushchev. Serving as First Secretary of the Communist Party from 1953 to 1964 and Premier from 1958 to 1964, Khrushchev is known for his de-Stalinization policies and efforts to reduce tensions during the Cold War. He famously oversaw the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, before ultimately agreeing to remove Soviet missiles from Cuba in exchange for the U.S. withdrawing missiles from Turkey. Khrushchev's leadership was marked by significant domestic reforms and a complex relationship with the West.