only Nixon could go to China
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Also seen as: only Nixon can go to China · it took Nixon to go to China
Meaning · English
Only a politician or leader with an impeccable reputation of upholding particular political values could perform an action in seeming defiance of them without jeopardizing his support or credibility.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “only Nixon could go to China” mean?
Only a politician or leader with an impeccable reputation of upholding particular political values could perform an action in seeming defiance of them without jeopardizing his support or credibility.
Is “only Nixon could go to China” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.