“The Cold War isn’t thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn’t sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting.”
- January 9, 1913 – April 22, 1994
- American
- The 37th President of the United States, Lawyer, Politician
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Quote
“The Cold War isn’t thawing; it is burning with a deadly heat. Communism isn’t sleeping; it is, as always, plotting, scheming, working, fighting.”
Explanation
This quote reflects Richard Nixon’s deep conviction about the persistent and aggressive nature of communism, particularly during the height of the Cold War. By declaring that the Cold War is not “thawing” but instead “burning with a deadly heat,” Nixon rejects any notion that tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union were diminishing. His depiction of communism as constantly “plotting, scheming, working, fighting” reveals his belief that the ideological struggle was ongoing and existential.
The historical background of this statement is set during the intensification of U.S.–Soviet rivalry, when Nixon, both as vice president under Eisenhower and later as president, was a strong proponent of containment. Despite eventually pursuing détente and visiting China and the USSR as president, Nixon consistently portrayed communism as a global threat that demanded vigilance. His rhetoric here is emblematic of the era’s binary worldview, where democracy and communism were locked in a zero-sum contest for global influence.
In modern times, while the Cold War has ended, the quote resonates in discussions about geopolitical tensions, ideological conflict, and national security. It serves as a reminder of the danger of complacency in the face of threats—whether from authoritarian regimes, cyber warfare, or disinformation campaigns. Nixon’s language underscores the need for constant alertness and proactive strategy when defending democratic institutions, making the quote still powerful in the realm of foreign policy and ideological discourse.
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