Kissinger contacted leading conservatives Senator Barry Goldwater and Governor Ronald Reagan. Senator Goldwater was skeptical: If the administration was still committed to Chiang Kai-Shek, then why not say so directly?49 By contrast, Reagan seemed willing to accept Kissinger’s assurances.50 “He was just bubbling” with appreciation, Kissinger reported. Even Nancy, “who’s got a hell of a lot more brains than he,” was impressed.
