Nixon goes to China: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:Nixon Mao 1972-02-29.png|thumb|200px|[[Richard Nixon]] (right) meets with [[Mao Zedong]] in 1972.]] |
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The phrase '''"Nixon in China"''' is a historical reference to [[United States]] [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon]]'s [[1972 Nixon visit to China|visit]] to the [[People's Republic of China]] (P.R.C.) in [[1972]], where he met with Chairman [[Mao Zedong]]. A more explicit variant with the same metaphor is, "'''Only Nixon could go to China'''." |
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Nixon's China visit was of particular significance because it marked the beginning of a process of normalization in [[Sino-American relations]] — the two countries had been estranged for many years as the United States was ardently [[anti-communism|anti-Communist]] and the P.R.C. had viewed the United States as its top enemy. |
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Because Nixon had an undisputed reputation of being a staunch anti-Communist, he was largely immune to any criticism of being "soft on Communism" by figures on the right of American politics. The phrase "Nixon going to China" is thus an analogy which refers to the unique ability that hardline politicians have to challenge political [[taboo]]s and [[third rail (metaphor)|third rail]] issues. Only a proven hardline right-wing politician can succeed in challenging a conservative [[sacred cow]], and vice versa for left-wingers. |
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==Examples== |
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*Though it occurred before Nixon's visit to China, the creation of the [[Federal Reserve System]] under the presidency of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Woodrow Wilson]] can be seen as a "Nixon-in-China" instance. The creation of a single [[central bank]] for the United States, a traditionally [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] issue, required a forceful Democratic President's backing for support. |
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*The [[Israel's unilateral disengagement plan of 2004|Israeli disengagement plan]] pushed forward by [[Ariel Sharon]]. |
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*The conservative South African president [[Frederik Willem de Klerk]] ending [[Apartheid]]. |
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*Canadian [[Liberal Party of Canada|Liberal]] Prime Minister [[Pierre Trudeau]]'s crackdown on [[FLQ]] terrorists during the [[October Crisis]] in the 1970's. |
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==Trivia== |
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{{Trivia|date=September 2007}} |
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*In ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country]]'', [[Mr. Spock]] quotes what he says is an old [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] [[proverb]]: "Only Nixon could go to China." The analogy is that [[Captain Kirk]], known for his dislike of [[Klingon]]s, was nevertheless escorting Klingons to a [[peace conference]]. |
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==See also== |
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*[[Nixon in China (opera)|''Nixon in China'' (opera)]] |
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*[[List of political catch phrases]] |
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[[Category:History of the foreign relations of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Political terms]] |
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[[Category:Sino-American relations]] |
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[[Category:Political catch phrases]] |
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[[Category:Richard Nixon]] |
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Revision as of 05:15, 18 November 2007
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