In June 1959, Richard Nixon who was then vice president, accompanied by his wife and a suit of over 100 journalists and photo reporters, arrived at the USSR to visit, along with Moscow and Saint Petersburg, that mysterious and faraway Siberia.

It is unlikely that he was shown labor camps and prisons or saw bears walking in the streets because the action took place mostly in Novosibirsk. However, according to photographs taken by Howard Sochurek, Nixon really enjoyed his stay in the USSR.

Greeting Soviet people upon arrival.

Those in the crowd look friendly and happy.

Nixon decided to make his speech standing on top of a car.

He must have talked about friendship or something.

“People were smiling, laughing and crying, “Come visit us again! Peace and Friendship!”

These people came out to welcome Nixon too.

Shepherds and cows politely parted to let Nixon’s cortege pass.

They stopped to have a bite.

Nixon’s wife and Soviet children.

Talking to miners.

Nixon was asked a bunch of questions too (about international relations and his opinion about Soviet people).

This poster about the company’s plan to increase production by 1.7 during the next 7 years arose interest in Nixon and he learnt that the information was outdated and they decided to double it.

Location: Novosibirsk

via kleomen