Becoming Quote by Robert Scheer
“Richard Nixon even before becoming president, before meeting Henry Kissinger, he said, "This is ridiculous. Communism is nationalist. The Chinese and Russian and Yugoslav and Cuban and - none of these communists get along, and the Koreans and the Vietnamese, and we can do business with them." And then he opened up to China, and that's when the Cold War started.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Robert Scheer discussing Richard Nixon, 1970s political commentary
Nixon viewed communism as fragmented and believed the U.S. could engage economically with diverse communist states despite ideological differences.
In simple terms: Communist nations were seen as divided, allowing U.S. business ties.
Key Takeaway
Leverage economic engagement despite political differences.
Themes
foreign policy
ideology
economics
Mood
reflective
strategic
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- diplomatic negotiations
- trade agreements
- geopolitical strategy
Key Concepts
realpolitik
strategic engagement
Cold War dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How did economic ties affect Cold War tensions?
- Is trade with adversaries beneficial or risky?
A Different Perspective
Overlooking ideological conflicts can lead to unintended alliances.
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