Fall of Khrushchev

The fall of Nikita Sereyevich Khrushchev

The attempted installation of Soviet medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Cuban territory, caused Khrushchev to come into conflict with US president Kennedy in October 1962 and next with China and Albania. This caused the unity on the communist side to break up. The latter conflict as well as his failing agricultural policy were the major factors that contributed to Khrushchev's fall in 1964.

On October 14, 1964, the Central Committee accepted Khrushchev's request to retire from his position as the party's first secretary and chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union because of "advanced age and poor health."