nixon in china

Some politicians, like Bill Clinton, are able to effortlessly summon eloquence on any subject. Others, like our own Gordon Brown, find it very hard. Richard Nixon fell into the latter group. Here is his comment to the press during a visit to the Great Wall of China:

This is a great wall.

(From Nixon And Kissinger)

Comments

[ejoch]

If you read Margaret Macmillan's recent book (vastly superior to Dalek's, I read it nearly in one sitting on a transatlantic flight) you'll find he probably wasn't feeling especially eloquent at that moment; he hated sightseeing and only agreed to any at all with great reluctance.