From Moscow to Main: The Kitchen Debate and the Cold War Media's Role in Shaping Public Opinion

Abstract

This thesis discusses a defining Cold War moment, the 1959 Kitchen Debate, which was part of a cultural exchange program between the United States and the Soviet Union. It was an ideological clash between capitalism and communism amplified by the media. Based on Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev’s televised confrontation, my study analyzes how media narratives weaponized cultural and technological achievements to shape public perception. American outlets promoted consumerism and individual freedom, while Soviet media downplayed materialism, emphasizing collectivism and industrial progress through censorship and propaganda. By examining textual, visual, and archival materials -from Life Magazine to Pravda- my thesis reveals how media transformed the debate into a global spectacle.