The New Year's Eve party was going full blast in the banquet hall atop the Kremlin's Palace of Congresses. Communist bigwigs mingled with diplomats, military leaders and stars of the Soviet cultural elite. Everyone was in high spirits, including Soviet ex-President Kliment Voroshilov, 82, who broke into an impromptu jig when the band played a snappy Russian melody. Genial Host Nikita Khrushchev roared his hearty approval.
It was no occasion for disharmonious words; so when the time came for speeches, Nikita waved away the latest 20,000-word attack on his policies by Red China. Every family has troubles, Khrushchev declared,...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
