Another crisis, the 1961 Note Crisis, was only averted after Kekkonen spent three days talking down Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

The Note Crisis could be called a manufactured crisis. Kekkonen was an expert on playing the Soviet card. Before the crisis Kekkonen had suggested to Moscow that he could use some help in defeating his opponent in the 1962 elections, Olavi Honka. The plan was to create a crisis and make the situation look like Kekkonen is the only one capable of negotiating with the Soviets. No-one knows what exactly was decided between Kekkonen and Moscow, but the "Crisis" made sure that he was re-elected. St. Urho he was not.

(Jussila, Hentilä, Nevakivi: Suomen poliittinen historia, pages 254-256)

You have a normal feeling for a moment, then it passes. --More--