Who were the other major traitors?
Just a big hero to a lot of clueless "conservatives" on this forum, for instance
I suppose you could make that case. Others certainly do, so you’re not alone or in particularly bad company either. I still see it differently.
During the height of the cold war, it was desired to cozy up with one Communist nation in opposition to the other. It gave Russia something to think about, because these two nations (China/Russia) were experiencing skirmishes on China’s northern border. The were hardly kissing cousins in that time frame.
Had the association been kept simply, merely a dialogue and softening of China’s anti-Western stance, perhaps it could have been a positive thing.
What transpired around 1992 was IMO bordering treason. It give aid and comfort to a Communist nation whose politicians were still making statements that they wanted to bury the West.
When you see the subterfuge associated with the Clinton White House, the thefts of state secrets, the gifting of others, the gifting of our technology that gave China a three or more decade jump, there’s little doubt both Bush the Elder and Clinton were psycho-babble idiots when it came to China.
Is that a good thing? Hell no!
Is that Nixon’s fault? No.
Is it reasoned to think a dialogue with China could have helped us in the cold war? Yes.
I see this as a ploy (not by you of course), to lay yet another bad thing off on a guy already suspected and blamed for bad things. It absolves those who truly did game the system.
Bush and Clinton have an awful lot to answer for when it comes to China. One day, I hope they’ll be seen for the contributors who brought us terrible grief.
Their successors will also share in that judgment.