The Library of Congress, in conjunction with the John W. Kluge Center, is hosting a roundtable discussion titled “The Death of Stalin (March 5, 1953): A Missed Opportunity to Overcome the Cold War?” from 2 to 4 p.m. today.

The roundtable, led by historical “witnesses” and historians, will focus on the implications and consequences of Stalin’s death on the Cold War policies of the Eisenhower administration. The panel will also discuss whether Stalin’s death could have been exploited to bring an earlier end to the Cold War.

Historical “witnesses” scheduled to participate in the event are Avis T. Bohlen, former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria and daughter of Charles Bohlen, U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union; Robert Bowie, former director of policy planning at the State Department; retired Army Gen. Andrew Goodpaster; Abbott Washburn, former deputy director of the U.S. Information Agency; former advisers to President Dwight Eisenhower; Sergei Khrushchev, son of the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev; Raymond Garthoff, CIA analyst; and Susan Eisenhower, the former president’s granddaughter.

Historians attending are Hope Harrison, George Washington University; Mark Kramer, Harvard University; Vojtech Mastny, Woodrow Wilson Center; and Ken Osgood, Florida Atlantic University.

The free event will take place in LJ-119 of the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress and is open to the public.

— Katie Kennon