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Stalin Dies
Soviet leader Josef Stalin dies, ending his 30-year stranglehold on power within the Soviet Union. This left for big change within the Soviet Union. -
Open Skies
esident Eisenhower and Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin meet in Geneva for the first postwar Soviet-American summit meeting. Eisenhower makes his "Open Skies" proposal to the Soviets, offering to allow each superpower to conduct surveillance flights over the other in order to put to rest both sides' fears of surprise attacks. -
Secret Speech Denounces Stalin
Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's "secret speech" to the 20th Party Congress in Moscow reveals and denounces the past crimes of deceased former Soviet leader Josef Stalin. Khrushchev also calls for peaceful coexistence between capitalists and Communists. In his campaign, Khrushchev will release political prisoners, improve Soviet citizens' access to consumer goods, and allow for growing freedom in Soviet literature. -
Hungary Leaves Warsaw Pact
Hungarian leader Imre Nagy announces his nation's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact. This was a repudiation of his country's alliance with the Soviet Union as the next step in the Hungarian Revolution. -
Soviets Crush Hungary
The Hungarian Revolution is crushed by a Soviet Red Army invasion. Hungarian leader Imre Nagy waits in vain for Western help, but the Soviets install a new, servile government under staunch Communist Janos Kadar. Repression of dissidents grows intense and many Hungarian refugees flee to the West. -
Sputnik Launched
The Soviets launch Sputnik, the first man-made object to orbit the earth. The Soviets' technological success in building the world's first satellite strikes fear in the hearts of Americans and launches the space race. -
First Satellite
The United States launches its first satellite, This satellite was known as Explorer. -
NASA Created
The United States creates NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. This was to lead the space race with the Soviet Union. -
Kitchen Debate
Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev engage in the so-called "kitchen debate" in Moscow. Nixon touts the high standard of living in the United States and the freedom of choice among consumer products as proof of the superiority of capitalism. -
U2 Shot Down Over Soviet Union
American pilot Gary Powers's U2 spy plane is shot down over the Soviet Union. President Eisenhower denies responsibility for the international incident and refuses to apologize, precipitating the collapse of a planned Paris summit between the United States and Soviet Union.
