FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2023-147 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (September 14, 2023) – In today’s edition of Fun with Maps, we recognize the anniversary of a rise to power in the USSR.

BANG THE SHOE

Today is the 70th anniversary of Nikita Khrushchev assuming leadership of the Soviet Union as first secretary of the Communist Party.

Khrushchev was a colorful character having risen to power the old-fashioned Soviet way – from simple background (son of peasants, and he being a metal worker), to communist party agent with successive promotions to the top.

Khrushchev knew how to game the system, playing along, and when he became the top dog, he did things in his own way — he denounced his predecessor, Stalin, put stop to mass purges, fostered a less oppressive system, gave some freedom to the arts, focused the USSR on the space program, etc.  

He also managed to almost start World War III by sending missiles to Cuba (and then took them back) and allegedly banged his shoe on a table at the United Nations when someone spoke unkindly of the USSR.

Shown here is Russia in Europe from 1810 by Laurie and Whittle.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.