What is the importance of the Soviet Moon Base in the novel, Advise and Consent?

In the novel's conclusion, a moon base is established by the Soviets, from which, the Soviet cosmonauts conduct a live broadcast to prove their presence and demonstrate their claim on the moon. The moon base is evidence of the United States having fallen behind not only in the Space Race, but in the Cold War as well –due to the policies of the President. This provides evidence that policies even more extreme than the President’s by way of Leffingwell will cause the country to fall further behind the Soviets.