Nikita Khrushchev was certainly not among the top ten nice guys, but he did have a certain down-to-earth outlook, born of his peasant roots.
In February of 1956, during his time as premier of the Soviet Union, he made a famous speech to the 20th Party Congress in which he detailed and disavowed the cruel and dictatorial acts of Josef Stalin.
"Everyone can err, but Stalin considered that he never erred, that he was always right. He never acknowledged to anyone that he made any mistake, large or small," said he.
Not long after there was another party gathering and Khrushchev gave a short address. During his speech someone yelled from the crowd, "If Stalin was such a villain, why did you not denounce him?"
Khrushchev frowned and said harshly, "Who said that?" Silence from the crowd. Again he said, "Comrades, for the good of the party and the state you must speak openly." Again silence.
Whereupon Khrushchev said mildly, "Now, Comrades, you know why I did not denounce him."
--------------- A Final Thought ...
"If we were to promise people nothing better than only revolution, they would scratch their heads and say: “Is it not better to have good goulash?”"
- Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971), Soviet premier. Quoted in: Observer (London, 12 Sept. 1971)