Haldeman says Nixon saved the world

Press, 18 February 1978, Page 1

Haldeman says Nixon saved the world

Richard Nixon saved the world from disaster by making Russia abandon a planned nuclear attack on China, according to the former White House chief of staff, ft. R. “Bob” Haldeman.

The tribute to Mr Nixon’s nuclear statesmanship are made in an otherwise damning book that Haldeman has written about the former President’s role in the Watergate scandal, NZPA-Reuter reports. Excerpts from the book, “The Ends of Power,” which were released by “Newsweek” magazine, give a detailed account of what Haldeman says was the- Soviet intention of launching — with United States help, Moscow hoped — a nuclear strike against China in 1969.

“If China had reciprocated, a full-scale nuclear holocaust would have begun with fall-out extending around the world. Insane, and yet the Soviets were readv to go. In fact, they insisted we loin them,” Haldeman said. Faced with American determination to remain friendly with China, Haldeman says, the Soviets pulled back from the brink of war. “They teetered on the edge for days watching the Chinese moving

more and more under the United States security umbrella,” he writes. Later, says Haldeman, the Russians were found to be building a nuclear naval base in Cuba, but American pressure persuaded them to cease. Haldeman also thinks that “Deep Throat,” the major source for the “Washington Post” stories on Watergate that contributed to Mr Nixon’s downfall, was Fred Fielding, “a shy, slightly prissy fellow” on the staff of a White House counsel, John Dean. Mr Fielding has denied the charge. More revelations: Page 7,