The Image of N. S. Khrushchev in Soviet Propaganda (1953–1964)

The thesis is the first analysis of the structure and methods of creating the N.S. Khrushchev’s official image by Soviet propaganda, as well as its perception by Soviet people in 1953-1964. Attempt to reconstruct the N.S. Khrushchev’s image in the central Soviet press and reaction on it by “letters to the authorities” authors were made based on unpublished documents from central Russian archives (State Archive of Russian Federation, Russian State Archive of Contemporary History, Archive of Russian Science Academy), paperworks, press reports, ego-documents (memoirs, letters), publicity. It demonstrates that governmental control for creating the leader’s image, conservating the directive methods of propaganda’s management combined with transformation in the official position of Soviet leader. The statement about the main role in creating the new format of representations belonged to N.S. Khrushchev justified. However, their reception by people wasn’t unambiguous. The positive reaction on Khrushchev’s personality and policy combined in letters with criticism sometimes in the same questions. The author concludes that party-state governing structures and press tried to combine traditional and innovative features in Khrushchev’s image. People perceived his image positively but the strengthening of the tendency to cultivate the individual and unfavorable changes for the authorities in the USSR contributed to the activation of critical moods in society. Meanwhile, the fraternal attitude and lack of acceptance of Khrushchev as a strong leader desacralized his figure in public opinion.