The influential leader of the Soviet Union during the Cold War was Nikita Khrushchev, who served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party from 1953 to 1964. Khrushchev is best known for his policy of de-Stalinization, which aimed to dismantle the repressive regime of Joseph Stalin and promote more open policies, though with limited success. His leadership included significant events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which highlighted the extreme tensions of the Cold War. Khrushchev's efforts to promote peaceful coexistence with the West and his approach to nuclear disarmament significantly shaped international relations during this tense period.