Seize the Moment: America's Challenge In A One-Superpower World

by Richard M. Nixon

"What is most striking about Mr. Nixon's charge to seize the moment, nearly all of which is sensible and sound, is the continuity of his counsel." —The New York Times

“In Moscow, Khrushchev arrogantly predicted to me, 'Your grandchildren will live under communism.' I responded, 'Your grandchildren will live in freedom.' At the time, I was sure he was wrong, but I was not sure I was right. As a result of the new Soviet revolution, I proved to be right. Khrushchev's grandchildren now live in freedom."

In this brilliantly timed book, Richard Nixon defines the challenges and opportunities facing America as the world's sole superpower. Only American leadership, he contends, can guide the turbulent post-Soviet Union world toward freedom and prosperity and make the 21st century an American century.

Forcefully dismissing the three prevailing post-Cold War myths about America—that "history has ended" with the defeat of communism, that military power had become irrelevant, and that America is a declining power—Nixon charts the course America must take in the future to seize this moment in history.

Genres: History, Politics, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Political Science

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974. During the Second World War, he served as a Navy lieutenant commander in the Pacific, before being elected to the Congress, and then serving as the 36th Vice President of the United States in the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961. After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1960, Nixon was elected in 1968, and re-elected to a second term in 1972. Under President Nixon, the United States followed a foreign policy marked by détente with the Soviet Union and by the opening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending the longest war in American history. Domestically, his administration faced resistance to the Vietnam War. In the face of likely impeachment by the United States House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate for the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a controversial pardon for any federal crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Nixon is the only person to be elected twice to the office of the presidency and the vice presidency, and is the only president to have resigned the office.

Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 and died four days later at the age of 81. ' to 'Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States from 1969 to 1974. During the Second World War, he served as a Navy lieutenant commander in the Pacific, before being elected to the Congress, and then serving as the 36th Vice President of the United States in the administration of Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1961.

After an unsuccessful presidential run in 1960, Nixon was elected in 1968, and re-elected to a second term in 1972. Under President Nixon, the United States followed a foreign policy marked by détente with the Soviet Union and by the opening of diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Nixon successfully negotiated a ceasefire with North Vietnam, effectively ending the longest war in American history.

Domestically, his administration faced resistance to the Vietnam War. In the face of likely impeachment by the United States House of Representatives and conviction by the Senate for the Watergate scandal, Nixon resigned. His successor, Gerald Ford, issued a controversial pardon for any federal crimes Nixon may have committed while in office. Nixon is the only person to be elected twice to the office of the presidency and the vice presidency, and is the only president to have resigned the office. Nixon suffered a stroke on April 18, 1994 and died four days later at the age of 81.

Reviews

[Al Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this 30 years after the book was written, one can see how prescient President Nixon was as an elder statesman. Does he bat a thousand, of course not, but he has very good insight and judgment into numerous, not all, issues.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really knew nothing about Richard Nixon. I had always heard he was 1) not handsome on TV and 2) a political genius. He certanly deserved all the things he got for letting down the country as President. I had forgotten this book until this inventory. I probably need to either reread this or get a new book by Nixon.

[Jerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite politician, mostly discredited by his actions although some things he did (opening China, EPA) were worthy. The main interest is, in 2020, to read his thoughts from 1991 about what the future is going to look like. Some things wrong, but some things right.

[Doug Bevill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this many years ago—before Amazon, back when we were still on dial-up internet.

Nixon is a controversial figure, and deservedly so. However, this book offers significant insight in the shadow of the Soviet Union’s collapse. It argues for why we should seize the moment and act as a benevolent world superpower—one committed to advancing peace and the betterment of humanity. The message remains quite relevant today, especially in a time when our current foreign policy seems to aim for the opposite.

[Owen Goodrich · Rating 3 out of 5]

crazy stuff