Four original 8.5 x 14 printed transcripts by Vice President Richard Nixon related to his historic 1959 goodwill tour to the Soviet Union. During this trip, Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev held their famous ‘Kitchen Debate,’ an impromptu exchange that occurred at the American National Exhibition in Moscow on July 24th; their fervid dialogue, which became a defining moment in the Cold War, was on the merits of capitalism versus communism. The earliest six-page transcript, marked “For Immediate Release,” dated August 1, 1959, features Nixon’s speech to a Soviet Radio/TV audience, in part: “I first want to express my appreciation to the government of the USSR for giving me an opportunity to speak to the people of this country…the American people and the Soviet people are as one in their desire for peace…Putting it bluntly, both of our peoples want peace but both of us also possess great strength and…neither of us can or will tolerate being pushed around…only aggressor nations have anything to fear from the U.S…Mr. Khrushchev, himself raised [the question]…‘why do you continue the arms race, why do you construct new military bases around our borders?’…I could cite statement after statement made by previous leaders of the USSR which advocated and threatened the use of force against non-Communist countries in order to achieve Communist objectives…one-fourth of the entire production of the USSR goes into armaments…We had a monopoly on the atomic bomb when on June 14, 1946, we submitted the Baruch plan for international control of atomic energy. What happened? It was rejected by the USSR…President Eisenhower made his offer of open skies aerial inspection. What happened? It was rejected by the USSR…If Mr. Khrushchev means…victory of Communism over the United States and other countries, this is a horse of a different color. For we have our own ideas as to what system is best for us…Mr. Khrushchev predicted our grandchildren would live under Communism…We do not object to his saying this will happen. We only object if he tries to bring it about.” The other transcripts, dated August 2nd and 5th, 1959, provide Nixon’s remarks as he arrives in Warsaw, Poland (one page), his remarks as he leaves Poland (two pages), and his remarks upon arriving back in Washington D.C. (two pages), which also contains good content summarizing his trip. In overall fine condition, with folds as issued. Accompanied by the original ‘Office of the Vice President’ mailing envelope with a preprinted Nixon franking signature, addressed to Kentucky Congressman William Natcher.
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