David Susskind is an older interviewer that MVD seems hellbent on getting me to study. Susskind’s Open End program was WNTA’s stellar New York political program. Coming near the end of the Eisenhower presidency, David Susskind saw the perfect opportunity to interview Nikita Khrushchev. What resulted was an hours long conversation about the Cold War up to that point.
Interview with Nikita Khrushchev is a fascinating look at true history and how influential political leaders responded to the pressures at the time. The Soviet Premier becomes visibly agitated when he learns that Radio Free Europe will be airing commercials during his interview. The leader’s distress is shown on the show, but carefully explained away.
Nikita Khrushchev makes it abundantly clear to David Susskind that he doesn’t want a nuclear war. More often than not, he ends up sounding like any number of politicians arguing the political advantages that come with their preferred party. After the two hour interview came a nearly two hour panel with period academics discussing what Khrushchev had to say.
Here’s a fun game for the amateur historians to play. Look up the names on the roundtable and do a little Googling. Jot down how many of them were accused of working for the State Department, CIA or both. Damn, do I love the Cold War.
