The judges asked Khrushchev if they were permitted to award the prize to the American. Khrushchev asked, "was he the best?" "Yes," replied the judges. "Then give him the prize," said the Soviet leader.

Khrushchev achieved the de-Stalinization of Russia and worked with US President John F. Kennedy to defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis. Their cooperation opened an end to the Cold War. However, hardliners in both countries removed both leaders from office, thus condemining the world to the ever present risk of nuclear armageddon. Thanks to the insane US governments in the post-Reagan era, this risk is higher than ever.

Take time to enjoy Van Cliburn's performance in Moscow of Tchaikovsky's piano Concerto No. 1. Here is Van Cliburn's 1958 performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV4wyxHMY9I 

Here is a later performance in Moscow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qROema2MDI Watch the hand work. It is extraordinary that such a difficult piece of music is performed on both occasions without a single missed key.