[In September 1959, during a whirlwind visit to Pittsburgh, then Soviet Premier, Nikita S. Khruschev] "gasped when he saw the view of the Golden Triangle at night from atop Mt. Washington.... At his own request his heavily-guarded convoy was re-routed at the last minute via Mt. Washington. In a pre-arranged surprise, skyscraper lights were blazing in all their brilliance. Khruschev, his wife, Nina, and their party uttered exclamatory comments in Russian. 'Wonderful, wonderful!' Khruschev blurted through his interpreter, to Mayor Thomas J. Gallagher, who was riding with him as the limousine cruised slowly down McArdle Roadway. 'Great city, great city,' chortled the Soviet chief as he peered into the sea of neon."

from "'Wonderful,' Nikita Says of City View: Red Premier Gets Glimpse from Mount."
The Pittsburgh Press, 24 September 1959, 2.

Last updated: 16 March 1999.