The granddaughter of former Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev, Dr. Nina L. Khrushcheva, is a professor of media and culture in the graduate program of international affairs at New School University in New York City. She is also an adjunct associate professor at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. Dr. Khrushcheva’s numerous articles have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, The Wall Street Journal, and other international publications. I met with Dr. Khrushcheva at an international symposium held at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri.

- Nina, where is it most difficult to be the granddaughter of Nikita Khrushchev – in Russia or in the US?

- I won’t say it is difficult. Since in Russia political leadership has always been secretive, it is harder for people there to imagine that I can have my own life. They also know who Khrushchev was, so I do get more questions. In the US it almost doesn’t matter, unless people of course are alerted to the name. But even then, it is the older generations, who remember the Cold War, that get excited. Younger people don’t know, don’t remember, don’t care. My students both at New School and Columbia Universities, where I teach, couldn’t care less.

- What is the most frequent question that people ask you when they discover you are of the Khrushchev line?

- Pretty much the shoe story, the legendary “we’ll bury you” phrase. Khrushchev said it visiting New York, supposedly taking off his shoe and banging on the podium. He meant, of course, political, social and economic competition, but the literal Americans took it as a military threat (a convenient approach for their own military industrial complex development) and ran with it for the rest of the Cold War.

- Have you looked into that topic personally as a researcher? Is the shoe story real?

- I did. I think the shoe-banging wasn’t so real. There are no pictures or footage of it. But there are people who were there at the General Assembly who insist they saw it. There are other people, who were there too, who insist it never happened. If the eyewitnesses can’t agree on a story, most likely it hasn’t happened. I still think that, if the banging had not happened, it would have been invented. The best anecdote is always one that reflects the morality and character of certain times. The shoe incident became a potent symbol of the Cold War, probably the only war in which fear and humor peacefully coexisted. Now it is all old hat – or old shoe – and who cares, really? The world has new  leaders and new wars and fears. But, personally, I found it comforting to know that history sometimes gives us the chance to replace horrifying reality with a funny anecdote.

- World history of course remembered the Soviet leader Khrushchev in certain ways. What memories does Khrushchev’s granddaughter Nina have of her grandfather?

- Not many. I was really small when he passed away. He was a good grandfather though, very patient with us. Also since Khrushchev was very concerned with agriculture, I remember we had to work in the garden, growing vegetables, weeding, etc. I have disliked nature ever since.

- Your main area of studies as a senior fellow of the World Policy Institute at New School University is the course of Russia’s democracy and US-Russia relations. How will the results of the just-concluded US Presidential elections influence the US-Russia relationship dynamics?

- I don’t think there will be much change. George W. Bush is a great fan of Vladimir Putin, and Putin can continue his questionable policies - i.e., strengthening his power at the expense of civil liberties and civil society - with Bush’s approval, even cheering. Same goes for Bush. He will have a great ally in Putin, whatever he does. Birds of a feather flock together.

- The main reader audience of our magazine is Russian and American businessmen, who want to work with each other. What advice would you give to the Americans – and what to the Russians – in order that such international cooperation be effective and mutually rewarding?

- I am sure they do it already, and most likely don’t need any advice from me. But since I am asked, what is necessary is to develop more small projects, in all areas, including business. Only in this way can Russia’s middle class, the essence of any civil society, grow and ultimately change a larger reality, Russia’s culture of mistrust and misunderstanding.