Nikita Khrushchev, who had held a prominent role in the Soviet leadership since the mid-1950s, faced substantial pressure from within the Communist Party that ultimately led to his resignation. His tenure was characterized by pivotal reforms, including efforts to de-Stalinize the Soviet Union, promoting peaceful coexistence with the West, and initiating significant agricultural policies. However, these policies often met with resistance, resulting in diminished support from party elites. By 1964, discontent among the party faithful and concern over Khrushchev's handling of various crises, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, had grown. During a crucial Politburo meeting, party leaders expressed their desire for new leadership and expressed doubts about Khrushchev's ability to govern effectively.

Khrushchev's retirement was presented as a request rather than a coup, as he was noted to have 'voluntarily' offered to step down. This orchestrated change was crucial in stabilizing the party’s leadership structure. The transition of power facilitated the return of more conservative elements within the Communist Party, which aimed to recalibrate Soviet domestic and foreign policies. The emergence of Leonid Brezhnev as the new leader set the stage for a more cautious and bureaucratically stable approach to governance in the years that followed.