Nixon principle

We can see a distressing, but not too unfamiliar a pattern emerging here, one wrong move leading to another, to another, and so on. In wise-guy circles this is sometimes known as the Nixon principle, if two wrongs don t make it right, try three. In power, it is called symptomatic troubleshooting. 

The Mills-Nixon effect (42 is a previous example) is a very controversial principle according to which the structures (resonance forms) with an endo single bond should be favored [52], Some authors reject its existence [53-55] while others believe firmly in it [56-61], We have proposed that there is some parallelism between the resonance forms of the classical Mills-Nixon 47 effect and the tautomeric forms of some heterocyclic compounds 48. 

Kroto, Nixon et al. have reported several examples of complexes of the phospha-alkene, L, RP=CPh2 (R = mesityl) (45). In principle phospha-alkenes can coordinate to transition metals... 

Finally, Kissinger judged that the Chinese leaders principled conduct would extend to trustworthiness and reliability in developing the new relationship. He assured Nixon that the Chinese could be expected to be meticulous in their diplomacy and in keeping agreements. These... 

These discursive foundations were crucial, but they were fundamentally conceptual, and there remained the question of whether the two sides would act in accordance with their declared interests when put to the test. Thus, the establishment of an understanding that both sides desired new relations was accompanied by a keen awareness of the need to convince each other that they had the capacity and willingness to bring about this new relationship. The next chapter focuses on Kissinger s and Nixon s efforts to convince the Chinese by their policy actions that the developing norms of their new relationship applied not only in principle, but also in practice. 

At the summit, Nixon personally endorsed these private assurances, reiterating the principles that (a) There is one China, and Taiwan is a part of China. There will be no more statements made - if I can control our bureaucracy - to the effect that the status of Taiwan is nndetermined (b) We have not and will not support any Taiwan independence movement and... 

TIM, which was a loose collection of political pressure groups, and not supporting the general principle of independence for Taiwan. These differences are not likely to have escaped Nixon s legally trained mind. 

Note that Kissinger was not retreating from Nixon s earlier positions that Taiwan was a part of China, that the United States would not support Taiwan independence movements, and that Washington would work toward normalization with Beijing. While these principles implied that the United States would move to de-recognize the ROC and extend diplomatic recognition to the PRC, Nixon never explicitly undertook to end all official ties with Taipei in the process. 

G. S. Nixon, in Activation. Analysis, Principles and Applications, Academic Press, New York, 1965, pp. 133-138. 

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