Ten Words from New York Times History - The Kitchen Debate - July 24, 1959

Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev debated in public today the merits of washing machines, capitalism, free exchange of ideas, summit meetings, rockets and ultimatums.

Premier Khrushchev joined Mr. Nixon in expressing hope that the American exposition would promote understanding between the two countries.

He said it was now stalemated and that a way must be found to get it moving toward a solution.

But their talk was straightforward and there was no hint of ill feeling in their fast and furious interchanges.

Nothing like the Nixon-Khrushchev exchange has occurred within the memory of the gray-haired member of the Moscow or Washington press corps.

Even to correspondents familiar with Mr. Khrushchev's capacity for catch-as-catch-can conversation and Mr. Nixon's ability to field rhetorical line drives, the day seemed more like an event dreamed up by a Hollywood script writer than a confrontation of two of the world's leading statesmen.

Mr. Khrushchev rejoined that in the Soviet Union they did not have what he called "the capitalist attitude toward women," apparently meaning that discrimination and exploitation of women did not occur under communism.

"I think that this attitude toward women is universal," Mr. Nixon said.

"I appreciate that you are very articulate and energetic," Mr. Nixon said.

Mr. Nixon said the American exhibition was designed not to astound but to interest--just as was the Soviet exhibition in New York.