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On Eisenhower's death. The last time I saw Eisenhower was two days before his death. His doctor greeted me outside the entrance to the Presidential suite. "How's he doing?" I asked. "I'm afraid there's not much hope, Mr. President," he replied. I talked with Eisenhower for about 15 minutes before the doctor came in to indicate that I should leave. I could see that he was tiring fast, so I shook hands with him and walked quickly to the door.
It struck me that this was probably the last time I would see him alive. I turned impulsively and tried to keep the emotion out of my voice as I said: "General, I just want you to know how all the free people of Europe and millions of others in the world will forever be in your debt for the leadership you provided in war and peace." His eyes were closed as I spoke, but after a brief moment he opened them and lifted his head from the pillow. With an unusual formality, he said, "Mr. President, you do me great honor in what you have just said." Then he slowly raised his hand to his forehead in a final salute.
On going to Peking. "This is the most important communication that has come to an American President since the end of World War II," Kissinger said. For nearly an hour we talked about the China initiative—what it might mean to America and how delicately it must be handled lest we lose it. "Henry, I know that, like me, you never have anything to drink after dinner," I said, "But I think this is one of those occasions when we should make an exception." I found an unopened bottle of very old Courvoisier brandy that someone had given us for Christmas. As we raised our glasses, I said, "Henry, we are drinking a toast not to ourselves personally or to our success. Let us drink to generations to come who may have a better chance to live in peace because of what we have done."
On meeting Mao. Kissinger remarked that he had assigned Mao's writings to his classes at Harvard. Mao said, "These writings of mine aren't anything.
I There is nothing instructive in— what I wrote." I said, "The Chairman's writings moved a nation and have changed the world." Mao, however, replied, "I haven't been able to change it. I've only seen able to change a few places in the vicinity of Peking."
On the North Vietnamese. Kissinger and [ completely agreed on the cynicism and perfidy of the North Vietnamese [negotiators]. Gritting his teeth and clenching his fists, Kissinger said, "They're just a bunch of shits. Tawdry, filthy shits. They make the Russians look good, compared to the way the Russians make the Chinese look good when it comes to negotiating in a responsible and decent way."