On this day 61 years ago, on October 16, 1964 (September 11, 1964 lunar calendar), Brezhnev replaced Khrushchev as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. On October 16, 1964, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union announced: The recent plenary meeting of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union examined Khrushchev's health and, in view of his aging and deteriorating health, decided to remove him as First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Chairperson of the Soviet Council of Ministers. At the same time, Leonid Brezhnev was appointed First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Alexei Kosygin was Chairperson of the Council of Ministers. Western observers were surprised by the rapid turnover of the top leadership of the Soviet Union. Later, Pravda publicly criticized Khrushchev, the deposed leader, saying he had "departed from reality, made plans rashly, reached conclusions prematurely, and made decisions hastily." He accused him of engaging in a "cult of personality," even though he himself had strongly opposed Stalin's "cult of personality." Observers believed that the ostensible personnel change was an avowed effort to improve relations between East and West and to coexist peacefully with the United States, but in fact to improve relations with China and end friction. Previously, Khrushchev took a hard line against China, which has strained relations between the two countries.