Nixon Discusses Khrushchev Visit

Transcript (Download)

We should be under no illusions that Mr.

Khrushchev's belief in the superiority of the communist system will be changed in any significant respect by his seeing the great productivity of the American economy, because everything he sees in the United States will be seen through communist eyes and the picture will be distorted or magnified so that it fits into the rigid description of free societies which the communist doctrine has painted for over a hundred years.

Nor should we be under any illusions that better understanding between the Soviet leaders and ourselves is all that is needed to resolve the differences we have between us and to assure peace.

What then is the purpose of this visit? Putting it in its simplest terms, while understanding alone will not bring peace, misunderstanding could provoke war and it is because his visit can serve to reduce the possibilities of such misunderstanding that it could contribute to chance that we can settle our differences without war and it therefore deserves the approval of the American people.

I have had the rare opportunity of seeing both Mr.

Khrushchev and President Eisenhower in action publicly and privately and I can assure you that the fears of those who believe that President Eisenhower may be taken in or bluffed by Mr.

Khrushchev are completely without doubt the foundation.

There is no doubt whatever but that the interests of the United States and the free world will be vigorously, firmly, and aggressively represented by the President in his meeting with Mr.

Identifier

F.2012-03-0784

Date Of Production

August 25 1959

Abstract

Vice President Richard Nixon discusses Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev's visit to the United States planned for September 1959.

Description

Vice President Richard Nixon comments on Nikita Khrushchev’s planned U.S. visit, shortly after Nixon’s own return from the Soviet Union in early August 1959. Nixon expresses that Khrushchev’s visit will hopefully reduce misunderstanding and the possibility of war, and he assures the American public that President Eisenhower will not be “taken in or bluffed by Mr. Khrushchev.”

Nixon made this address when he was in Minneapolis for the American Legion National Convention on August 25, 1959.

Run Time

0:02:01

Format

16mm

Extent

100 feet

Color

B&W

Sound

Optical

Reel/Tape Number

1/1

Has Been Digitized?

Yes

Language Of Materials

English

Element

Print

Genre

Journalism

Form

Press Conferences

Subject

Soviet Union
Politics and government
Politicians

Related Collections

SUBSERIES I: Politics & Government

Related Places

North America ➜ United States ➜ Minnesota ➜ Minneapolis

Distributor

Telenews (Firm)

Main Credits

Koza, Frank (is filmmaker)

Participants And Performers

Nixon, Richard (is participant)

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