Kitchen Debate

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The Kitchen Debate was an impromptu debate (through interpreters) between Vice President of the United States Richard Nixon and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the opening of the American National Exhibition in Moscow, on July 24, 1959. For the event, an entire house was built that the American exhibitors claimed anyone in America could afford. It was filled with labor saving and recreational devices meant to represent the fruits of the capitalist American consumer market.

The debate took place in the house's kitchen. The two men discussed the merits of each of their economic systems, capitalism vs. communism. The event was recorded on color videotape, a new technology pioneered in the U.S., and Nixon made reference to this fact. The debate took place during an escalation of the Cold War, beginning with the launch of Sputnik in 1957, through the U-2 Crisis in 1960. Most Americans believed Nixon won the debate, and hence the event added to his prestige on the homefront^{[citation needed]}.

The debate is called "The Kitchen Debate" not only because it took place in a kitchen, but also because Nixon tried to steer the focus of the conversation to household appliances such as the washing machine, rather than bombs or weapons, to prevent showing any potential shortfalls of the United States military in comparison to the Soviet Union.

Khrushchev repeatedly stated that Russian people focus on things that matter rather than luxury. He satirically asked if there was a machine that "puts food into the mouth and pushes it down". Nixon responded by saying at least the competition was technological, rather than military. In the end, both men agreed that the United States and the Soviet Union should be more open with each other. However, Khrushchev was skeptical of Nixon's promise that his part in the debate would be translated into English and broadcast in the U.S.

The kitchen was designed by All-State Properties in Florida. Following the debate the company was inspired to market affordable second homes (selling for between $10,000 and $12,000) from the 9th floor of Macy's in Herald Square in Manhattan. Those houses were called "leisurama". The biggest collection of these houses is at Culloden Point at Montauk, New York. In 2006, those houses (which have often been modified) are selling for more than $500,000^{[citation needed]}.