After writing last weekend about the sublime flip-flop of Richard Nixon's trip to China 40 years ago today, I received many comments that make his journey look even smarter than I had thought.
So as an unlikely pre-Presidents' Day bouquet, here are some more kind words about Nixon — or at least his role in plotting the world-changing China trip. The thrust of these comments is that Nixon began planning his breakthrough years before he pulled it off and was relentless in driving it through to completion.
I offer this clarification because, given the national Nixonophobia, credit for the China opening usually goes to Henry Kissinger, his national security adviser. Kissinger handled his part of the opening superbly, but, as he told me last week, it couldn't have happened without Nixon.
Take these as amendments to what I wrote on Feb. 12. If you want further reading, the story is told in “White House Years,” the first volume of Kissinger's memoirs:
Read Full Article »
