According to James Reston, the trip “enhanced Mr. Nixon’s chances of nomination” for president by the Republican Party in 1960. In Russia, Nixon had found a more complex and dynamic society than he had expected. He had effectively spoken out about American freedom of religion and the press, and done so in a manner that was firm but respectful. Reston concluded that Nixon had “handled a delicate political assignment . . . with considerable skill.” Even Walter Lippmann praised him for demonstrating that personal diplomacy could be far more effective in lowering world tensions than meetings of
...more
