Nikita Khrushchev Raises His Shoe at the UN in Protest; 20 Mehr 1339 (October 12, 1960)

In one of the most controversial sessions in UN history during the Cold War, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev pounded the table in protest at the Philippine delegate’s remarks about Moscow’s domination of Eastern Europe. According to some accounts, he also raised his shoe in protest, though there are differing versions of the details.

In one of the most controversial meetings in the history of the United Nations during the Cold War, Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union, protested the words of the representative of the Philippines about Moscow's dominance over Eastern Europe. A story that has different narratives about its details.

According to Ambassador Arjan, [12 October 1960 equals 20 Mehr 1339], in one of the strangest moments in the history of the Cold War, Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet leader, slammed his fist on the table and, according to some reports, took off his shoe and threatened to hit the table with it in protest of a critical speech about Soviet policies in Eastern Europe.

This happened during the discussion about a resolution by the Soviet Union against colonialism. The representative of the Philippine government in this meeting accused the Soviet Union of a double approach and considered this country's domination over Eastern Europe as an example of the same colonialism that Moscow had opposed in its resolution.

In response to these words, Khrushchev reportedly took off his slipper and waved it in the air in protest. Of course, there is some disagreement as to whether or not he actually took the shoe off and then slammed it on the table.

In any case, the situation of the meeting became very chaotic and finally, Frederick Boland, the Irish president of the UN General Assembly, was able to bring the meeting back to order by breaking his gavel. However, the image of Khrushchev as a hot-tempered and ridiculous leader was so etched in the collective minds of Americans that it was not easily erased from their memory.