[1] Nikita Khrushchev was the last leader of the Soviet Union before Operation Crossroads and the evacuation of humanity to the stars. He, after the transition, as a symbol of unity between Earthlings, became the first head of government for the new monarchy-esque regime of the Human Federation. He was ousted by internal politic in 1964 when he was defeated in a leadership challenge for his party. James Nesmith succeeded him after the All-Union party won the 1964 election.
[2] James Nesmith was a disaster of a leader. While some of his domestic policies, namely the National Health Service and Combine Union were centerpieces of the 'New Human Age' policies, he suffered numerous set backs--Grand Mesa Famine. During the particularly bitter winter of 1964, the Mormon-majority colony of Grand Mesa, located in the mountainous regions north of Stronghold 'Independence' (the federal capital) was cut-off from major supply lines as heavy snowfall and blocked the Brigham Young Pass, the only way to undertake an ascent of Grand Mesa and reach the Stronghold. Despite attempts by the Air Legion (whose capacity as an arm of the military was largely logistics based) to deliver goods to the settlement, it was a significantly difficult situation to behold. In January 1965, Grand Mesa declared independence from the Human Federation due to the frustrations of the First President of the Latter-Day Saints with the central government's complete failure to respond in a "competent manner".
His party would later break up in 1966, leading to his defeat in 1967 by David Burke, one of the men advocating secession from his party.