THE

AMERICAN
NATIONAL
EXHIBITION IN
MOSCOW, 1959:
How the A.N.E.M. Influenced the Cold War

Matthew Williams
History 490
Dr. Kate Transchel
May 11, 2016

The so-called Kitchen Debate of 1959 between Richard M. Nixon and Nikita S.

Khrushchev was a pivotal point in the Cold War. Held at the American National Exhibition
in Sokolniki Park in Moscow, its official purpose was to promote the sharing of ideas
regarding consumer technology between the two superpowers. Not limited to simple
appliances, the event did instigate the sharing of ideas. The Kitchen debate highlighted
many differences: cultural, political, and technological. While the American National
Exhibition is considered by popular history to have contributed greatly to the overall
outcome of the Cold War, it clearly did not have quite that much influence.

Background

The American National Exhibition was originally planned under a 1958 agreement,

made between the United States and the Soviet Union, to hold expositions in each others
countries. A Soviet Exhibition was in New York Citys Coliseum and an American Exhibition
was to be held in Sokolniki Park in Moscow. The intention of these expositions was to
share ideas and show each others populations what the other country was like.1 This came
at a time when the populations of the two countries knew little about their powerful
adversaries. The Soviet Union and Communism were taboo subjects to discuss in the
United States, while conversely the United States and Capitalism were taboo in the Soviet
Union. Thus, most people had little or no idea what life was actually like in either country.
The American National Exhibition aimed to change this.

1 Susan E. Reid, Who will Beat Whom?: Soviet Popular Reception of the American
National Exhibition in Moscow, 1959, Kritika, Explorations in Russian and Eurasian History
9, No. 4, Fall 2008, p. 856.

In early 1959, President Eisenhower approved Vice President Richard Nixon to

represent the United States at the exhibition after a recommendation by the United States
Information Agency.2 Just before Nixon left for Moscow, the U.S. Congress passed the
Captive Nations Resolution, which established that every third week in July would be
dedicated to raising awareness regarding countries that were under the control of
Communistic and other non-Democratic regimes.3 This resolution caused great tension
prior to, and during, Nixons visit to the U.S.S.R.. It was the subject of much of what Nixon
and Khrushchev debated when not in the public eye.

Figure 1: Map of the American National Exhibition in Moscow, 19594

The Exhibition itself included the latest and greatest technology and art,

representing American cutting-edge culture. There was a model home, nicknamed

2 Richard M. Nixon, RN: The Memoirs of Richard Nixon (New York: Gossett & Dunlap,
1978), 203.
3 Ibid, 205.
4 Paleofuture, Illustration of plans for the American National Exhibition in Sokolniki
Park, Moscow, The All-American Expo That Invaded Cold War Russia, accessed April 7,
2016, http://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-all-american-expo-that-invaded-cold-warrussia-550628823.

Splitnik as a play off of the word Sputnik. This nickname was bestowed upon it because
it was split in half to allow a large audience to view the interior. Inside there was the
General Electric kitchen, whose yellow appliances created a bright, cheery background for
the infamous kitchen debate. Adjacent the house, there was a revolutionary Color
Television Studio, where Nixon and Khrushchev would have a debate recorded on Ampex
color videotape that would be replayed on televisions throughout the U.S. and the Soviet
Union. Separate from the house, there were three other kitchens, most notably a fullyautomated Whirlpool Miracle kitchen designed to amaze Soviet and American Audiences.
Voting machines, demonstrated how American election processes worked on the individual
level. These voting machines were used during the exhibition to collect data regarding
Soviet reaction to the exhibits.5 An array of American art, including many sculptures, as
well as a large selection of paintings and photographs. These exhibits represented the
diversity and creativity of modern American artists.

Another interesting exhibit was a film entitled Glimpses of the U.S.A, a slideshow-

type film put together to show Soviets what an average day for an average American family
was like. It contained imagery of wide-open prairies, densely wooded forests, mountains, as
well as urban cities, cars, and trolleys to the tune of dramatic cinematic music with a
narration that described a typical day in America. It really did capture the late 1950s U.S.A.
quite well.6 The exhibitioners displayed the film on seven twenty-foot by thirty-foot
screens inside another of the events main attractions, a 250-foot diameter geodesic dome,

5 Reid, 886.
6 Charles and Ray Eames, Glimpses of the U.S.A. (1959) [excerpt] (Eames Office,
1959), from YouTube, 4:23, https://youtu.be/Ob0aSyDUK4A

designed by the renowned architect Buckminster Fuller.7 It took more than all of this,
however, to truly impress the Soviets.

Figure 2: "Glimpses of The U.S.A." being shown in the Geodesic Dome at the American National Exhibition, 1959.8

The Kitchen Debate

The most well-known events of the American National Exhibition were the debates

between Nixon and Khrushchev in the model General Electric kitchen, hence the name
kitchen debate. This was followed by a debate in the color television studio, which was

7 Eames Office, Glimpses Of The U.S.A. Film, The Work: Multiscreen & Multimedia,
accessed April 3, 2016, (Eames Office 1959).
8 Eames Office, Out Of Many, One: Glimpses Of The U.S.A. And More, Scholars Walk:
Notable Articles, accessed April 4, 2016, http://www.eamesoffice.com/scholars-walk/outof-many-one-glimpses-of-the-usa-and-more.

aired and broadcast in the United States and Soviet Union. These two events are often
collectively referred to as The Kitchen Debate although only one of them actually
happened in a kitchen. Among the things discussed were the superiority of each country in
specific areas. In what was probably the most famous scene from the whole event, Nixon
and Khrushchev walked into the the General Electric model kitchen and Nixon pointed at a
dishwasher:
Khrushchev: We have such things.

Nixon: This is our newest model. This is the kind which is built
in thousands of units for direct installations in the houses. In
America, we like to make life easier for women

Khrushchev: Your capitalistic attitude toward women does not
occur under Communism.

Nixon: I think that this attitude towards women is universal.
What we want to do, is make life more easy for our
housewives.9

This scene was famous because it highlighted a significant attitude difference regarding the
status and role of women within the cultures. I t also showcased the differences in how
consumer technologies were viewed by each superpower.
In another instance, Nixon admitted that although the Soviet Union was ahead of the
United States in rocket technology at the time, that the U.S. had an upper-hand in consumer
technologies, such as color television. The two went back and forth: jabbing, joking, and
debating throughout Nixons time in the Soviet Union. Though much was said between the
two leaders, the moments captured by audio and video technology have become the
foundation for scholarly interpretation of The Kitchen Debate.

9 Central Intelligence Agency (FOIA), The Kitchen Debate Transcript, July 24, 1959,
(The History Channel n.d.)(accessed 2/20/16), p.1.

Figure 3: Khrushchev (left) and Nixon (right) in the General Electric model kitchen10

In the debate that took place in the color television studio, the two men jousted
more on their countrys respective policies, trying in vain to answer a question that neither
would agree on: which system is better? Each made valid points about the superiority of
their system. When the topic of housing was brought up, Khrushchev argued that Soviets
had a right to housingthat one only has to be born in the Soviet Union to receive housing.
In jest, he contrasted this to the United States, stating if you dont have a dollar you have
a right to choose between sleeping in a house or on the pavement meaning if you were
penniless, you would be forced to sleep on the street. Nixon rebutted, claiming that there
were 1,000 builders building 1,000 different houses and that no one individual in the

10 The History Channel, The Kitchen Debate Video, Richard M. Nixon Videos,
accessed April 10, 2016, http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/richard-mnixon/videos/the-kitchen-debate. (Khrushchev and Talbott 1974) (Frankel 1959)

government made anyones decisions for them.11 Khrushchev firmly convinced himself that
with the adoption of the 1960 five-year plan, the U.S.S.R. could catch up to the United
States, and eventually become superior, all thanks to the wonders of Communism. He made
it a point during the debate to share his confidence with the world.

Reception of The American National Exhibition

The American National Exhibition received mixed reviews. On the American home

front, news outlets reported that Nixon successfully debated his points and advocated
peace between the powers. However, many sources collected from Soviet patrons to the
exhibition displayed criticism of the event. The primary means of collecting information
from the Soviets included a combination of voting machines that they used to record
quantitative data regarding specific exhibits as favorable or unfavorable, as well as
blank comment books that Soviets could write anything in. These sources, however, are not
absolutely reliable due to so-called agitators present during the first few weeks of the
event. The agitators would confuse American guides with absurd questions, and left
negative comments in the books in the hopes that others would follow suit. 12 It is for this
reason that the information gathered must be interpreted with potential biases in mind.

The majority of the comments that Soviets wrote in the comment books were

negative, often describing a feeling of disappointment.13 Many Soviets expected much

more from the American exhibit. Some praises would be accompanied by a criticism within
the same comment. This is likely due to patrons tendencies to read previous comments in

11 Central Intelligence Agency (FOIA), The Kitchen Debate Transcript, July 24,
1959, p. 2.
12 Reid, 874.
13 Ibid., 877.

the book and formulate their own comments based upon them. It is also due to fears of
seeming pro-American by Soviet secret policemen.

Based upon the data collected from the Soviet comment books (see Table 1), it is

clear some exhibits were very popular. American cars were widely commented-on as many
Soviets quite liked the designs and features offered in American cars that were not offered
in Soviet cars. The tour guides were also, for the most part, viewed favorably. Yet despite
these positive notes, most comments remained negative. Soviets did not find the
technology and machine-related exhibits as impressive as expected. A 1959 New York
Times article written by Max Frankel stated, a great number of the Russians complained
of an absence of technical marvels at work before their eyes.14 Another very common
criticism related to technology was that many of the machines made simple tasks more
complicated. Khrushchev himself criticized a lemon juicer to Nixon:
What a silly thing for your people to exhibit in the Soviet
Union, Mr. Nixon! All you need for tea is a couple of drops of
lemon juice. I think it would take a housewife longer to use this
gadget than it would for her to do what our housewives do:
slice a piece of lemon, drop it into a glass of tea, then squeeze a
few drops out with a spoon. That's the way we always did it
when I was a child, and I don't think this appliance of yours is
an improvement in any way. It's not really a time-saver or a
labor-saver at all. In fact, you can squeeze a lemon faster by
hand. This kind of nonsense is an insult to our intelligence.15

Many Soviets shared the same sentiment regarding these time and labor saving devices.
Simpler, better ways to do the same task existed that did not involve an expensive gadget.
This held true for many of the devices showcased in the American exhibit.

14 Max Frankel, U.S. Fair Derided By Soviet Press: Propaganda And Deception
Alleged in New Attacks, The New York Times, July 29, 1959.
15 Nikita S. Khrushchev and Strobe Talbott, Khrushchev Remembers: The Last
Testament (New York: Little Brown & Company, 1974), 365.

One of the other exhibits criticized even more harshly by Soviets were the art

exhibits. Many Soviets thought the art too risqu, too vulgar, and often just inappropriate.
One of the most hotly contested aspects of the art exhibit was how it portrayed women. In
this regard, Khrushchev had a particular issue:
there were a lot of paintings and pieces of sculpture in a style
which the Americans consider modernism. Most of these didn't
impress me much. In fact, I found them revolting. Some of them
were downright perverted. I was especially upset by one statue
of a woman. I'm simply not eloquent enough to express in
words how disgusting it was. It was a monster-woman, all out
of proportion, with a huge behind and grotesque in every other
way. How would this sculptor's mother feel to see how he
depicts a woman? He must be abnormal in some way, a pervert
or a pederast. No man who loves life and nature, who loves
women, could depict a female this way!"16

Many Soviets agreed with this sentiment. American art just did not sit well with them. At
least five peopleincluding Khrushchevspecifically commented on that sculpture
unfavorably in the Soviet comment books (see Table 1).

One of the other problematic aspects discussed by Soviet patrons was the overall

confusing nature of the exhibition. The exhibition lacked signage or organization that many
Soviets did not think fondly of. Soviets expressed a desire for more organization, signs and
descriptions of what each item was. 17

16 Ibid, 364-365.
17 Frankel, U.S. Fair Derided By Soviet Press.

Table 1: Quantified Breakdown of Comments on Specific Exhibits in Visitors Books for the American National Exhibition in
Moscow, 195918

Category
Favorable
Cars
71
Family of Man
28
Guides
26
Circarama
19
Consumer Goods
16
Color TV
14
Miracle Kitchen
11
Model House
8
Art
7
Organization of Exhibit (crowd control, signs,
5
visibility, etc.)
Books
4
Machines & Technology

Voting Machines
Fashions
Geodesic Dome
Sports
Music
Pepsi-Cola
Architecture
Furniture
Toys

3
3
3
3
2
2
2
2

Unfavorable

2
8



2
2
37 + 5 (sculpture)
19 + 2 (lack of signs)

82 (lack of science &
technology)
2







9

Despite its harsh criticism, it is incorrect to call the American National Exhibition a
failure. It did influence the Cold War, but not in the way many think it did.

The Impact of the American National Exhibition

U.S.-Soviet relations during the American National Exhibition, including the first

time many Soviets had seen western consumer goods and technology, reached a new
milestone. The Kitchen Debate certainly showcased major differences in a relatively short
amount of time. The thing that made the Kitchen Debate significant in the grand scheme of

18 Reid, p. 872.

10

the Cold War is that it was really the first time a leader from the United States and the
leader from the Soviet Union met face-to-face and deliberated upon policy matters. It was
also the first recording of such a debate on color videotape, which both governments
translated, and broadcast internationally. Seeing two high-ranking officials of two of the
most powerful nations on earth jabbing at each other, interrupting one another, telling
jokes served to humanize them both. It showed both Americans and Soviets that despite
political and ideological differences, that we are all human. Khrushchev and Nixon both
handled themselves very well, especially given that they knew the world was watching.
Nixon tried to incite peace by showing the Soviets that by converting their production from
military purposes into consumer good purposes, that they, too, could live like Americans.
Khrushchev responded to these assertions by arguing that capitalism breeds corruption
and oppression. In the end, the two men agreed to start a dialogue in order to share ideas
and culture, to coexist rather than to try to overtake one another.

In terms of the rest of the exhibition, for the most part, Soviets did not believe

Americans lived in the way the American National Exhibition portrayed them. Many Soviets
doubted thatas Nixon proclaimedan average steel worker could comfortably afford a
house like that making only ninety dollars a week. Even if they got past that, many took
issue with the supposed poor quality of the structure and felt that, while it might be alright
for the Russian summer, it would not stand a chance in Russian winter.19




19 Frankel, U.S. Fair Derided By Soviet Press.

11

Consumer Data

While the Soviets outwardly scoffed at the over-complicated American goods, a

subtle image of what life could be like was inserted into the minds of everyone who
attended the exhibition. This led to a very gradual increase in desire for things Americans
had. While no quantitative data was found to reflect consumer demand itself, data showing
the types and quantities of goods owned by Soviet families over time, as well as the
quantity of specific goods produced by the Soviet Union do exist. Using televisions
including black and white and coloras a standard consumer good, an analysis of demand
can be undertaken. In 1970, the Soviet Union produced 6,682,000 televisions. That same
year, the United States produced 9,368,000 televisions. Seventeen years later, in 1987, the
U.S.S.R. produced 9,081,000 televisions, while the U.S. produced 23,280,000.20 Over a
seventeen year span, Soviet production of televisions increased by 2,399,000 units, while
the U.S. increased its production by 13,912,000 units. In addition, in 1980, 249 out of 1,000
Soviets owned a television. Nine years later, in 1989, that number grew to 316 out of
1,000.21 It is clear that both production and consumption gradually increased over time,
and this must have been caused by an increase in demand.

Analysis

While the Soviets initial response to the American National Exhibition was rather

negative, the exhibition did serve to influence the Cold War, but in longer-term, indirect
ways. The exhibition was most influential in introducing new ideas. At first, the ideas of

20 U.S. Department of Commerce, USA/USSR Facts and Figures, August 1991,
https://www.census.gov/population/international/files/USSR.pdf, 50.
21 Ibid., 96.

12

capitalism and consumerism seemed laughable and inconceivable to Soviets who had long
been accustomed to the ways of socialism. Soviets viewed many of the goods displayed at
the exhibition as science fiction at first. Real change only began to take place around a
decade later when the Soviet Union began trading with western Europe and the United
States. Though consumer demand did not skyrocket from the get-go like so many
Americans hoped it would, it gradually increased after World War II until the Soviet Union
collapsed in 1991. The 1959 exhibition influenced the gradual demise of the Soviet Union
by showing the Soviets what could be possible, and what their lives could be like if they
focused more on consumer manufacturing and less on military manufacturing.
A direct correlation between the exhibition and consumer demand is difficult to
establish due to a lack of hard data. Between the end of World War II and the exhibition
fifteen years later, consumer demand did rise, but not as fast as after the exhibition. It did
have at least some influence. The evidence is the production of consumer goods and how
many Soviets owned these goods over time. Before the exhibition, relatively few Soviets
had experience with, or access to, western goods. After the exhibition, consumer goods
began to slowly become more commonplace. By the 1970s, people could purchase things
like televisions, cars, western-style clothing, stereos, and other things Americans had in
nearly every home. In a sense, it took a decade after the exhibition for the Soviet Union to
begin to get to the same level of production as the United States, and even into the late
1980s, it still had not caught up fully. Even with the introduction of consumer goods, the
centralized economic planning was far too inefficient to keep up with fluctuating demand.
It would require a conversion to capitalist practices to provide Soviet consumers with the
products they desired. With that conversion came the collapse of the Soviet Union.

13

Conclusion

The American National Exhibition in Moscow of 1959 showcased the latest and

greatest of American ingenuity, despite the fact that much of it was not available to
Americans at the time. The point of the exhibition was to show the Soviet Union what the
United States could do. By featuring a modern house, cars, appliances, whole kitchens, art,
and ideas, it gave many Soviets a too good to be true type of first impression. Many
Soviets doubted the legitimacy of the guides and the exhibits, partially due to Soviet
propaganda, partially due to fear of being thought of as pro-American. In the short term,
the exhibition had little effect on the Cold War. It was simply a diplomatic relation builder.
It did open more dialogue between the United States and the U.S.S.R. but real change did
not occur until nearly a decade later when consumer goods began to become more
commonplace. So did the American National Exhibition cause the collapse of the Soviet
Union? In a word, no. However it did sow the seeds of consumerist dissent that would
blossom in the mid 1970s and come to full fruition by the late 1980s. The Soviet Union
would have collapsed no matter what, for a variety of different reasons, but the American
National Exhibition did likely serve to speed up the process at the very least.

14

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