The leader known for his campaign of 'De-Stalinization' in the Soviet Union was Nikita Khrushchev. After Joseph Stalin's death in 1953, Khrushchev sought to dismantle the oppressive policies of Stalinism, which included political repression and the cult of personality surrounding Stalin. In his famous "Secret Speech" of 1956, he criticized Stalin’s purges and terror, promoting a more liberal approach to governance and economic policies. This period was marked by a slight thaw in the Cold War dynamics and a focus on de-escalating tensions with the West, although the fundamental structure of the Soviet regime remained intact.