Recently an Iraqi journalist threw his shoes at President George W. Bush. The act of hitting people with shoes is a grave insult in that culture. Bush, to his credit, later said, “I didn't hear what he, said, but I saw his sole.” I'd guess one of his handlers supplied that quip, but it was clever.
The incident stirred a memory. Shoe? Yes! Nikita Khrushchev visited the United Nations General Assembly in the autumn of 1960. He repeatedly interrupted the proceedings by pounding his fists on the desk and shouting Russian epithets. He acted more boorish on successive days.
During a debate over a Russian resolution denouncing colonialism, a Filipino delegate accused Russia of, itself, carrying out colonialism. Khrushchev pulled off his right shoe and repeatedly banged it on the desk.
This was great material for the US media, particularly the emerging TV news organizations. I was only 18 so I loved the comedians' take on the incident. Comedian Vaughn Meader recorded a sketch about world leaders deciding to order lunch during a summit conference.
This was a phonograph record, so your mind supplied the video. Picture the summit meeting chairman asking each luminary at the table, in turn, what he or she wants to order in for lunch. He finishes taking orders,
You hear a loud BANG BANG BANG.
Big pause.
“Oops. Sorry. I skipped you Mr. Khrushchev. What do you want for lunch?”
“Oh that's all right, I'll just have some of yours.”