Nikita Khrushchev comes to power in the Soviet Union in the 1950s and believes in the concept of "peaceful coexistence" with the West. The Space Race between the US and Soviet Union begins in 1957 with the Soviet launch of Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite, demonstrating their technological capabilities. John F. Kennedy is elected President of the United States in 1960, promising a "New Frontier" but also taking a strong anti-communist stance abroad. Kennedy faces multiple foreign crises with the Soviet Union, most notably over Berlin and the Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the two superpowers to the brink of nuclear war.

1. Nikita Khrushchev comes to power in SU and believes in PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE; “destalinization” Only economic and scientific competition You do not like Communism. We do not like capitalism. There is only one way out – peaceful co-existence. Khrushchev speaking on a visit to Britain in 1956. We may argue. The main thing is to argue without using weapons. Khrushchev speaking in 1959.

2. Sputnik I October 4, 1957 World’s 1 st Artificial Satellite – launched by Soviets - about the size of a basketball, weighed about 200 pounds, and took about 98 minutes to orbit the Earth on its elliptical path Photograph: NASA/EPA The Space Race begins…

5. History Rewind: Ham the chimp goes to into space!!

11. Who would YOU elect??

12. The Kennedy Years

34. Source: U.S. News and World Report, December 1957.

35. Source: Life magazine, May 1955.

41. Nov. 9, 1989 – E. Germany allows W. Germans to enter

42. Reagan’s Speech; June 1987

46. History Rocks:The Berlin Wall

48. Mythbusters takes on the supposed Moon Landing “hoax”!

50. History Rocks: Space Race – Cold War Front