![]() ![]() where the farmers from various outskirts of the city bring in their items to sell. I think though that from what I have seen it’s a very effective exhibit, and it’s one that will cause a great deal of interest. Nixon: Well I have not had much of an opportunity to see it yet, but I’ve seen a great number of photographers, as of course has the president and the prime minister. Vice President, from what you have seen of our exhibition how do you think it’s going to impress the people here of the Soviet Union? I express gratitude to the messenger, and I hope you enjoy your visit. President has sent me a message, which I haven’t read yet, but I believe in advance that he sends warm wishes. I personally express gratitude and on my colleagues’ behalf, that Mr. Nixon has arrived in Moscow for the opening of the exhibition. I’d like to say what is most important today. We can feel sorry for you because you don’t understand. That’s a domestic issue and it doesn’t concern us. The question of social structure and well-being – you want to do that under capitalism? Well, you live as you wish. Then if you like, we can stop and invite you to catch up. When we pass you along the way we’ll greet you amicably like this. We have existed almost 42 years and in another 7 years we will be on the same level as America. Khrushchev: Then we’ll say America has existed 150 years and here is its level. Unknown third party: 150 years of independence. How long has America existed? Is it 300 years? We wish you success in demonstrating America’s capabilities and then we will be impressed. Hence, these are our guiding principles in policy, domestic and international. A fool may start this war and a wise man won’t be able to end that war. ![]() If someone tries to be a little bellicose then we can tug his ear a little and we can say “Don’t you dare!” We can’t be at war. If we are friends then other countries will be friends. We want only to live in peace and friendship with Americans because we are the most powerful nations. This will contribute to improved relations between our countries and among all countries to ensure peace throughout the world. Not only will we learn, but we also can show and do show you what we do. Regarding our wishes, we wish America the very best to show its goods, products, and abilities, great abilities and we will gladly look and learn. But I think that everything will be in place in a few hours and it will be a good exhibition. Therefore, it is hard to comment, because what we see is the construction process rather than the exhibits we’d like to see. Khrushchev: In speaking about impressions, it is now obvious that the builders haven’t managed to complete their construction and the exhibits are not yet in place. Interviewer: Tell us your general impressions of the exhibits. The second, shorter excerpt is from “The Two Worlds: A Day-Long Debate,” New York Times, July 25, 1959, 1, 3. The first excerpt below is a transcription from a CSPAN video of the conversation between Nixon and Khrushchev when they met to attend the exhibit Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev, “Kitchen Debate,” July 24, 1959, CSPAN. Source: There is no complete record of all of Nixon and Khrushchev’s conversations, and versions vary. The international attention the Kitchen Debate received showed the significant role that ideas and communication played in the Cold War. For Khrushchev, the exchange allowed him to question how advanced the United States really was and to praise the communist system. He observed that the debate itself showed the power and importance of free expression. For Nixon, the encounter offered an opportunity to praise American technology, capitalism, and the high standard of living in the U.S. Nixon and Khrushchev remained in good spirits as they argued both leaders were mindful that their conversation was being captured using the new technology of color television and video recording. (One exchange came during a visit to the model American kitchen featured in the exhibit.) The so-called Kitchen Debate was actually an unscripted series of exchanges between the two leaders about the merits and flaws of their respective economies and political systems. Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev accompanied Nixon on a tour of the exhibit, with a team of journalists and photographers trailing them. In the summer of 1959, Vice President Richard Nixon traveled to Moscow to formally open the American National Exhibit, a fair sponsored by the United States to show the Soviet people how Americans lived.
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