A Quiet Khrushchev Leaves for S.F.

Sept. 21, 1959: Khrushchev grew increasingly frustrated that his U.S. trip was being closely controlled, preventing him from meeting "average Americans." In San Francisco, he finally broke loose from his handlers to meet crowds. San Francisco Mayor George Christopher takes a slap at Los Angeles Mayor Norris Poulson, saying: "We're not going to have any ideological discussions here -- we're just going to live up to San Francisco's reputation for hospitality."   Photograph by Ben Olender / Los Angeles Times A police officer is stationed on the roof of the IBM Building across from the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard. Photograph by the Los Angeles Police Department Nikita Khrushchev's motorcade leaves the Ambassador Hotel, heading east on Wilshire Boulevard. Note the Tishman Building, 3325 Wilshire Blvd.  Photograph by the Los Angeles Police Department Khrushchev's motorcade heads for downtown Los Angeles, just east of the athletic field at Belmont High School, where Beverly Boulevard turns into 1st Street.

Photograph by the Los Angeles Police Department Reporters and photographers wait for Khrushchev at Union Station. Photograph by the Los Angeles Police Department Police Chief William H. Parker gives an interview.

Photograph by George R. Fry / Los Angeles Times Khrushchev leaves Union Station for San Francisco, ignoring microphones set up in case he wanted to make some farewell remarks. Photograph by Don Cormier / Los Angeles Times A crowd meets Khrushchev's train when it stops in Glendale. The sign reads "Nice work in Hungary, Nikita," according to the 1959 caption information.