Why would that be? You think Nixon wouldn't try anything akin to Bay of Pigs? You think Castro wouldn't let the Soviets put missiles in Cuba? I'm not sure there'd be much difference in their (Nixon & Kennedy's) Cuba policies, truth be told, but I'm not too familiar with the topic either.cuban missle crisis never happens.
Most of those candidates are sound except for Suslov - he never actually wanted the job of General Secretary, was always more content working behind the scenes, and was a big supporter of democratic centralism. If he actually wanted it he could get it, but Suslov never had the ambition.I wonder what would happen to Soviet Politics if there was no Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev was a dead man walking but without that thing to have the Politiburo throw him out just who will replace him is just up in the air. It could be Brezhnev, Podgorny, Suslov, Kosygin, or Shelepin.
Khruschev's heir apparent was a fellow by the name of Frol Kozlov, but he was something of an alcoholic, which makes his succession admittedly unlikely, although I suppose he could be a sort of proto-Yeltsin.I wonder what would happen to Soviet Politics if there was no Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev was a dead man walking but without that thing to have the Politiburo throw him out just who will replace him is just up in the air. It could be Brezhnev, Podgorny, Suslov, Kosygin, or Shelepin.
To add to this: Khrushchev believed that Kennedy was weak and would fold easily. This perception was based in large part on their summit in Vienna, where Kennedy really dropped the ball. IIRC Khrushchev had a lot more respect for Nixon, who had managed to hold his ground during their meetings.It’s less, I think, that Nixon would be more successful, but that he would be perceived as a more dangerous opponent, and so the Soviets wouldn’t have risked the provocation of placing missiles in Cuba. I don’t think this is certain, but I think it’s a reasonable and credible read on the situation
Khrushchev's chosen successor by the end was Podgorny. However, Khrushchev didn't particularly respect many of the people in the Politburo (for instance he considered Podgorny unimaginative and Brezhnev dumb), so he probably would fire some people like he'd done in the past.I wonder what would happen to Soviet Politics if there was no Cuban Missile Crisis, Khrushchev was a dead man walking but without that thing to have the Politiburo throw him out just who will replace him is just up in the air. It could be Brezhnev, Podgorny, Suslov, Kosygin, or Shelepin.
Kozlov also died in 1965, and in 1963 he was replaced as Second Secretary by Brezhnev. According to some old news articles I dug up, he eventually became part of the conservative opposition to Khrushchev.Khruschev's heir apparent was a fellow by the name of Frol Kozlov, but he was something of an alcoholic, which makes his succession admittedly unlikely, although I suppose he could be a sort of proto-Yeltsin.
To add to this: Khrushchev believed that Kennedy was weak and would fold easily. This perception was based in large part on their summit in Vienna, where Kennedy really dropped the ball. IIRC Khrushchev had a lot more respect for Nixon, who had managed to hold his ground during their meetings.
Khrushchev's chosen successor by the end was Podgorny. However, Khrushchev didn't particularly respect many of the people in the Politburo (for instance he considered Podgorny unimaginative and Brezhnev dumb), so he probably would fire some people like he'd done in the past.
Brezhnev's decision to go after Khrushchev was partially made because of the choice of Podgorny as heir. I suspect Brezhnev might still try a coup even without the Crisis, but Khrushchev's power base would still be a bit too secure (and Khrushchev would be more on top of things), so it would fail. That ends Brezhnev's career, and any other coup plotters. Though I think a liberal like Podgorny or Kosygin securing power after Khrushchev finally falls in unlikely, simply because the Politburo was sick of liberalism.
Kozlov also died in 1965, and in 1963 he was replaced as Second Secretary by Brezhnev. According to some old news articles I dug up, he eventually became part of the conservative opposition to Khrushchev.
Assuming that Khrushchev doesn't oust them when Brezhnev fails, yes. Suslov would probably lead the next coup (he was the closest thing the USSR had to a leader of the opposition). As @Avalanches noted, Suslov wouldn't want to seize the brass ring for himself, but as coup leader and one of the most veterans members of the Politburo he would be kingmaker. Shelepin is unlikely to become General Secretary; he was too nakedly ambitious and hardline for many Politburo members.So in the event that Brezhnev fails, its more likely for a Shelepin-Suslov duopoly to oust Nikita Khrushchev? From my limited knowledge of Soviet Politics, Shelepin made Brezhnev look like Mikoyan.
Assuming that Khrushchev doesn't oust them when Brezhnev fails, yes. Suslov would probably lead the next coup (he was the closest thing the USSR had to a leader of the opposition). As @Avalanches noted, Suslov wouldn't want to seize the brass ring for himself, but as coup leader and one of the most veterans members of the Politburo he would be kingmaker. Shelepin is unlikely to become General Secretary; he was too nakedly ambitious and hardline for many Politburo members.