You're probably too young to have lived through the time that Mr. Nixon was in the House/Senate/VEEP/and perhaps old enough to remember/know much about his presidency,in that time. You can't judge what happened later ( re China ), why he went there and "opened" engagement.
At that time, China and the USSR were getting very "cozy". In order to break that somewhat apart, is WHY he did what he did, as at that time the USSR really was a threat to America and China combined with the USSR was viewed as a disaster.
I could explain more of it, but YOU should so the research!
I also suggest that you buy a GOOD ( old) dictionary and use it!
I have read it up and down.His Domestic policy was absolutly disastrous. He enlarged The Great Society, and drove up Inflation. The USSR became more powerful under him,DeSantis was a flat failure. In fact the USSr was the most powerful in 1980.