Kissinger Video Interview
8. Why were you chosen to go to China to make arrangements for Nixon's visit? To some it seemed as though Nixon was, almost, playing with you.
Henry Kissinger: Oh yea. Playing, this was a minor league game by Nixon's standards. And actually, in fairness, he was quite capable of playing games. I don't think he originally intended to send me. The irony is that he thought - he - we went over a number of names jointly, and every time he considered one it was obvious that whoever went would become a major public figure and would therefore get some of the credit for the China opening, which Nixon was absolutely determined not to share. So he thought sending his adviser whom he didn't permit to be on television and who could not control his own press relations was the safest way for him not to have to compete on this. And also the easiest way for him to keep control of it. This is why I think he didn't come to this right away to send me
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