The Infamous Kitchen Debate, 50 Years Later...
[Both men enter kitchen in the American exhibit.] Nixon: I want
to show you this kitchen. It is like those of our houses in
California. [Nixon points to dishwasher.] Khrushchev: We have
such things. Nixon: This is our newest model. This is the kind
which is built in thousands of units for direct installations
in the houses. In America, we like to make life easier for women...
Khrushchev: Your capitalistic attitude toward women does not
occur under Communism. Nixon: I think that this attitude towards
women is universal. What we want to do, is make life more easy
for our housewives... Nixon: This house can be bought for $14,000,
and most American [veterans from World War II] can buy a home
in the bracket of $10,000 to $15,000. Let me give you an example
that you can appreciate. Our steel workers as you know, are
now on strike. But any steel worker could buy this house. They
earn $3 an hour. This house costs about $100 a month to buy
on a contract running 25 to 30 years. Khrushchev: We have steel
workers and peasants who can afford to spend $14,000 for a house.
Your American houses are built to last only 20 years so builders
could sell new houses at the end. We build firmly. We build
for our children and grandchildren. Nixon: American houses last
for more than 20 years, but, even so, after twenty years, many
Americans want a new house or a new kitchen. Their kitchen is
obsolete by that time....The American system is designed to
take advantage of new inventions and new techniques. Khrushchev:
This theory does not hold water. Some things never get out of
date—houses, for instance, and furniture, furnishings—perhaps—but
not houses. I have read much about America and American houses,
and I do not think that this is exhibit and what you say is
strictly accurate. Nixon: Well, um... Khrushchev: I hope I have
not insulted you. Nixon: I have been insulted by experts. Everything
we say [on the other hand] is in good humor. Always speak frankly.
Khrushchev: The Americans have created their own image of the
Soviet man. But he is not as you think. You think the Russian
people will be dumbfounded to see these things, but the fact
is that newly built Russian houses have all this equipment right
now. Nixon: Yes, but... Khrushchev: In Russia, all you have
to do to get a house is to be born in the Soviet Union. You
are entitled to housing...In America, if you don’t have
a dollar you have a right to choose between sleeping in a house
or on the pavement. Yet you say we are the slave to Communism.
Nixon: I appreciate that you are very articulate and energetic...
Khrushchev: Energetic is not the same thing as wise. Nixon:
If you were in the Senate, we would call you a filibusterer!
You—[Khrushchev interrupts]—do all the talking and
don’t let anyone else talk. This exhibit was not designed
to astound but to interest. Diversity, the right to choose,
the fact that we have 1,000 builders building 1,000 different
houses is the most important thing. We don’t have one
decision made at the top by one government official. This is
the difference. Khrushchev: On politics, we will never agree
with you. For instance, Mikoyan likes very peppery soup. I do
not. But this does not mean that we do not get along. Nixon:
You can learn from us, and we can learn from you. There must
be a free exchange. Let the people choose the kind of house,
the kind of soup, the kind of ideas that they want. Khrushchev:
[In jest] You look very angry, as if you want to fight me. Are
you still angry? Nixon: [in jest] That’s right! Other
Russian speaker: Tell us, please, what are your general impressions
of the exhibit? Khrushchev: It’s clear to me that the
construction workers didn’t manage to finish their work
and the exhibit still is not put in order...This is what America
is capable of, and how long has she existed? 300 years? 150
years of independence and this is her level. We haven’t
quite reached 42 years, and in another 7 years, we’ll
be at the level of America, and after that we’ll go farther.
As we pass you by, we’ll wave “hi” to you,
and then if you want, we’ll stop and say, “please
come along behind us.” ...If you want to live under capitalism,
go ahead, that’s your question, an internal matter, it
doesn’t concern us. We can feel sorry for you, but really,
you wouldn’t understand. We’ve already seen how
you understand things. Other U.S speaker: Mr. Vice President,
from what you have seen of our exhibition, how do you think
it’s going to impress the people of the Soviet Union?
Nixon: It’s a very effective exhibit, and it’s one
that will cause a great deal of interest. I might say that this
morning I, very early in the morning, went down to visit a market,
where the farmers from various outskirts of the city bring in
their items to sell. I can only say that there was a great deal
of interest among these people, who were workers and farmers,
etc... I would imagine that the exhibition from that standpoint
would, therefore, be a considerable success. As far as Mr Khrushchev’s
comments just now, they are in the tradition we learned to expect
from him of speaking extemporaneously and frankly whenever he
has an opportunity. I can only say that if this competition
which you have described so effectively, in which you plan to
outstrip us, particularly in the production of consumer goods...If
this competition is to do the best for both of our peoples and
for people everywhere, there must be a free exchange of ideas.
There are some instances where you may be ahead of us—for
example in the development of the thrust of your rockets for
the investigation of outer space. There may be some instances,
for example, color television, where we’re ahead of you.
But in order for both of us benefit... Late July, 1959... Moscow
