Khrushchev’s 1959 Visit

Robert Gillette’s article regarding the rumored visit of Kremlin leader Mikhail Gorbachev (Part I, Aug. 23) brought back some very personal memories of the visit of Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev in 1959. The article stated that Khrushchev was “ . . . barred from Disneyland on grounds of security.”

That is not quite accurate, and the overt differences in the leadership styles of the two Soviet leaders make the slight inaccuracy worth noting.

I was deeply involved in the planning of the security operation for Premier Khrushchev and the arrogantly irascible nature of the old shoe pounder caused William H. Parker, who was then chief of police of Los Angeles to be unrelenting in his insistence upon outright perfection in the security effort.

Every location to which Khrushchev was to visit was minutely scrutinized beforehand as were the routes to the locations. The “warm body safety” was attended by LAPD and U.S. State Department personnel as well as by Soviet personnel.

Every detail of the effort was agreed upon after being examined to an exquisitely precise degree by a Soviet colonel and his staff which included a brilliant and exacting young interpreter who is now a member of the Soviet diplomatic corps.

From the time that Khrushchev was to arrive in Los Angeles until he climbed aboard the train which was to carry him north for a visit to San Francisco, every inch of the itinerary was planned, re-examined, double approved and given a stamp of approval by the heads of each of the concerned facets.

The premier’s visit went swimmingly for a couple of days, but when the motorcade was traveling on an approved route through the southern part of Los Angeles County, the premier, characteristically, pulled the unexpected. He stopped the procession and insisted that they “diverge slightly” and take him to see Disneyland.

Things were very tense for the officers in command of the various agencies having responsibility for security. Soviet state personnel and security men attempted to cajole him into behaving but obduracy was his middle name.

Chief Parker was contacted and advised of the situation. He also was no stranger to obduracy.

The chief’s one and only message to be delivered to the premier was that if he caused one inch of deviation from the agreed upon plan, all LAPD personnel would be withdrawn and the remainder of the visit the Soviets were on their own.

The Soviet security men were extremely edgy about delivering anything but an acquiescent reply let alone a pronouncement of this type. But within a minute after it was delivered, the caravan was on its way.

The redeeming feature of the operation was when Khrushchev was preparing to board his northbound train, he turned to his interpreter and gave him a message to be delivered to the staff officer in charge of the security detail.

“This has been what I call security ,” was his pronouncement.

It might not have been unbridled encomium, but considering his nature and the number of security operations he had been a part of, it sort of made the day for the LAPD officers involved.

CHARLES D. REESE

Deputy Chief, LAPD (Ret.)