The Cold War was marked by a series of events, including the Kitchen Debate between Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev and US Vice President Richard Nixon, which highlighted the differences between their economic systems. Meanwhile, PepsiCo played a notable role in the Soviet Union, negotiating an exclusive contract to sell Pepsi behind the Iron Curtain in exchange for the rights to sell Stolichnaya vodka in the West. The company's deal with the Soviet Union involved a trade of soft drinks for hard liquor, with PepsiCo eventually acquiring a fleet of warships in exchange for a $3 billion deal that was too large to be paid in vodka. [... more]

The History Guy shares a forgotten moment during the Cold War that deserves to be remembered, involving rubles, cola, and a kitchen that changed history. The story revolves around the Cola Wars, the Soviet Union's non-convertible currency, and a cultural exchange between the US and the Soviet Union in 1959. It also highlights the role of Pepsi Cola in the Soviet Union, including the purchase of warships and the exclusive contract to sell Pepsi Cola behind the Iron Curtain. [... more]