Sunday, November 16, 2014

Tru'merica: 1959 Kitchen Debate

With relations between the USA and Russia at a nadir not experienced since the Cuban Missle Crisis, it is perhaps useful to view this videotape of the frank and even humorous exchange between the world's leading capitalist and the world's leading communist that took place in Moscow at a US trade exhibition in 1959. Conversation,on and off camera between the main antagonists began in a modern kitchen display at the expostion, hence the incident's name. Vice President Nixon takes the opportunity to brag about America's new technology, color television and color video tape. Khrushchev, ever playing the Russian rustic, responds simply "Harasho!"; he knew he was dealing with a very tricky American lawyer. At one point in his extemporaneous remarks Khrushchev playfully waves "bye-bye" as he claims the Soviet Union will pass America in its rapid modernization of Russian society. Nixon politely responds by implying the Chairman is an habitual bombast.



Part one of the video can be seen here. Unfortunately the simultaneous English translation for the Vice President is not entirely audible in that segment. The world could use more direct, candid exchanges between leaders like this one recorded at the height of the Cold War in a time of renewed east-west confrontation.