The Kitchen Debate (Nixon and Khrushchev, 1959) Part I of II

The Kitchen Debate was a series of impromptu exchanges (through interpreters) between then U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the opening of the American National Exhibition at Sokolniki Park in Moscow on July 24, 1959. For the exhibition, an entire house was built that the American exhibitors claimed anyone in America could afford. It was filled with labor saving and recreational devices meant to represent the fruits of the capitalist American consumer market. It was the first high-level meeting between Soviet and U.S. leaders since the Geneva Summit in 1955. It took place in a number of locations at the exhibition but primarily in the kitchen of a suburban model house, cut in half so it could be viewed easily.

The two men discussed the merits of each of their respective economic systems, capitalism and communism. It was recorded on Ampex color videotape, a new technology pioneered in the U.S by the Ampex company.; during the debate Nixon pointed this out as one of the many American technological advances.

Both men argued for their countrys industrial accomplishments, with Khrushchev stressing the Soviets focus on things that matter rather than luxury. He satirically asked if there was a machine that "puts food into the mouth and pushes it down". Nixon responded by saying at least the competition was technological, rather than military. In the end, both men agreed that the United States and the Soviet Union should be more open with each other. However, Khrushchev was skeptical of Nixon's promise that his part in the debate would be translated into English and broadcast in the U.S.

Ampex Data Systems Corporation is still on the forefront of technology development. More information can be found at www.ampex.com

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Emigdiosback]

now this is what debates should be about, household appliances instead of war machines.

[o0vice0o]

We'll show you kyzkiny mat!

[Leigh Cunningham]

It looks like one of my VHS tapes from the eighties.

[va3svd]

To be fair to Khrushchev, he destalinized the USSR massively and I think GULag prisoners dropped by 80% or something like that.

[BlueSpace1500]

Holy crap the captions are WAY off. I dont speak russian but seriously no one talks like that :/

[LemurInBlack]

i cant hear or understand any of this

[kosiak10851]

what a retarded comment! Learn something about Khruschev, idiot!

[idiosincrasia100]

Somoen know when was t question on the debate: "Who would won nuclear war?" Nixon: "we have power to destroy 7 times URSS". Kruschev: (lought) "we can destroy US only 1 time, but for us, is engouth" Is saw it to many years ago. Cab someone tell me in wich video was that sentence?

[SpartanPict]

Krushchev comes across a complete buffoon - seems more like a circus leader.

I wonder how many millions died in Gulags under Krushchev?

[G4liats]

The "Peaceful coexistence" that led the SU to its economic collapse due to mixed capitalistic socialistic elements that Khrushchev and the others after him established. Stalin were brutal in his methods maybe but yet again every one in the world were brutal in his times but he succeed in creating an independent powerful economy that led to a life worth living.

[Simon Vincent]

Honestly, I was not around then, in fact my father wasn't even around at this time, but it does my heart good to see this because it really does put a human face on both of these men and their nations. Look, I know Nixon was a corrupt politician and Khrushchev by no means a democratic leader but to see these men stand around a joke with each other, it makes me think of how I would love to see Biden and Kim Jung Un stand around and make jokes with each other. -Faith in humanity-

[xcvbcxvb]

Качество телевидения и звука для 59 года дюже крутое.