July 24, 1959: Vice President Richard Nixon, accepting an invitation on behalf of the unavailable President Dwight D. Eisenhower, attends the opening of the American National Exhibition, at Sokolniki Park in Moscow.
It was the 2nd half of a cultural exchange that was supposed to bring the United States and the Soviet Union closer together in peaceful competition. The 1st half was held in New York in June, and was considered a success by both sides, so there was hope for a continuation.
On display in Moscow was an exhibition of American art, fashion, cars, and model homes, including what was then described in the American media as "futuristic kitchens." The press agent was William Safire, who thus began a professional relationship with Nixon that lasted for the rest of Nixon's life, first as a campaign advisor, then as a speechwriter, and finally, starting in 1973, as a Nixon-friendly columnist for the otherwise-Nixon-unfriendly New York Times. That column ran until 2005, well after Nixon's death.
Khrushchev, already 65 years old, was dismissive of the American technology in front of Nixon, 46 but nearing the end of his 2nd term as Eisenhower's Vice President. Having previously told the West in general, "We will bury you" in a 1956 speech -- it was later suggested that he meant not, "We will kill you," but, "We will attend your funeral," or, "You are digging your own grave" -- Khrushchev asked Nixon, "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."
And yet, he also maintained that the technology -- things like electric juicers and can openers -- were harder to use than the traditional hand-driven methods, and, remembering a scene from Charlie Chaplin's 1936 film Modern Times, mockingly asked Nixon, "Don't you have a machine that puts food into the mouth and pushes it down?" Nixon responded that at least their competition was technological, rather than military.
Nixon pointed out that there were areas where each side was ahead of the other. He cited the Soviets being ahead in rocket power, and the Americans ahead in color television. Khrushchev said, "Nyet," and wagged his finger at Nixon, not to deny that the Americans were ahead in color TV, but dismissing the idea that being ahead on that subject mattered much.
The American reaction to all this was mixed. Conservative media said that it showed that Nixon, who soon had to make the decision of whether to run for President in 1960, as Eisenhower was the 1st President ever to be limited to the 2 terms of the 22nd Amendment, had gone toe-to-toe, face-to-face with the leader of America's greatest enemy, the much older, far more experienced bald (albeit short) bully Khrushchev, and had held his own, so he was ready to lead the nation as "Ike" retired.
More liberal observers thought that the "Kitchen Debate" was just a publicity stunt, and that it wouldn't matter when Nixon faced the Democratic nominee for President in 1960, whoever that turned out to be.
It turned out to be Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts. And when they held their 1st debate, the argument for Nixon in '59 became the argument against him in '60: Kennedy, though just 4 years younger, had outdebated the more strictly experienced man.
After losing to Kennedy, Nixon set about writing a book about his political experience thus far. He titled it Six Crises, and listed the Kitchen Debate was one of them, along with the Alger Hiss hearings, what became known as the Checkers Speech, President Eisenhower's 1955 heart attack, his troubled 1958 tour of South America, and his defeat to Kennedy.
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July 24, 1959 was a Friday. These baseball games were played that day:
* The New York Yankees lost to the Detroit Tigers, 4-2 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. (It was renamed Tiger Stadium in 1959.) Don Mossi went the distance for the Tigers, and Don Larsen only lasted 1 inning, helping pave the way for his inclusion, after the season, in the trade that brought Roger Maris to The Bronx. Eddie Yost hit a home run for the Tigers, and Al Kaline went 1-for-3 with a walk. Mickey Mantle went 0-for-4, and Elston Howard hit a home run in the 9th to give the Yankees a little hope.
* The Cleveland Indians beat the Washington Senators, 5-2 at Cleveland Municipal Stadium.
* The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati. Frank Robinson went 2-for-4. The game was scoreless going to the bottom of the 8th, when Eddie Kasko hit a home run for the Reds. But in the top of the 9th, Carl Sawatski hit a 2-run homer to win it for the Phils.
* The Chicago White Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Brooks Robinson went 2-for-4.
* The Milwaukee Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 8-0 at Milwaukee County Stadium. Juan Pizarro pitched a 4-hit shutout. Joe Adcock hit a home run. Hank Aaron went 2-for-4 with a walk and 2 RBIs. Roberto Clemente went 1-for-4.
* The Kansas City Athletics beat the Boston Red Sox, 3-1 at Kansas City Municipal Stadium. Yankee-to-be Roger Maris went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and manager-to-be (but not for the Yankees) Dick Williams hit a home run. For the Red Sox, Ted Williams appeared only as a pinch-hitter, and did not reach base.
* The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stan Musial did not play.
* And the San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-5 at Seals Stadium in San Francisco. Jim Davenport singled home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning. Willie Mays appeared as a pinch-hitter and then took over in center field, with a single and a walk. Ernie Banks went 0-for-1 and then left the game due to injury.
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