Bulganin, Nikolai Aleksandrovich (1895-1975)

Soviet politician and military leader. His career began in 1918 when he joined the Cheka, the Soviet secret police. He helped to organize Moscow's defences in World War II, became a marshal of the USSR in 1947, and was minister of defence 1947-49 and 1953-55. On the fall of Georgi Malenkov he became prime minister (chair of the council of ministers) 1955-58 until ousted by Nikita Khrushchev.