Mr. Khrushchev goes to Washington: Domestic opposition to Nikita Khrushchev's 1959 visit to America

In September 1959, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev travelled to the United States for a tour of the country and a series of informal meetings with President Dwight D. Eisenhower. While the visit was widely hailed at the time as a chance to lessen the tensions of the Cold War, many spoke out against the visit, denouncing Khrushchev as the "Butcher of Budapest" and the visit as an example of appeasement. While the best remembered protests against Khrushchev's visit were headed by conservatives like William F. Buckley and the John Birch Society, a wide variety of anti-communist groups, including union leaders and Catholic and immigrant groups, were vocal opponents of the Soviet dictator's travels in the US.;The historiography of anti-communism has traditionally ignored or downplayed the wide appeal of the anti-communist movement. This dissertation closely examines the wide variety of groups formed to oppose Khrushchev's visit and the protests that they engaged in. It also pays particular attention to the importance of religion and prayer in motivating and shaping anticommunist protests. For many mid-century anticommunists, prayer was often a primary means of expressing their opposition to the Soviet Union and its policies abroad. This prayerful protest could take many forms, including prayer vigils, special Masses or church services, Marian devotions and Eucharistic adoration.;Special attention is given to the Committee Against Summit Entanglements, the first "front" organization founded by the John Birch Society, which was a leading opponent of the Khrushchev visit. By examining the history of this Committee, and comparing it to comparable liberal anti-communist organizations, this dissertation provides insight into the origins and tactics of the John Birch Society, one of the most important conservative organizations of the 1960.