The Soviet Union during the Cold War was predominantly led by Nikita Khrushchev as its First Secretary from 1953 to 1964. He succeeded Joseph Stalin and played a crucial role in shaping Soviet policies and relations with the West. Khrushchev is known for his efforts to de-Stalinize the Soviet Union, as well as his involvement in significant events such as the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. His leadership was characterized by a mix of reform and aggression, influencing the dynamics of the Cold War and Soviet-American relations significantly.