RICHARD NIXON and WATERGATE, 1974 The Fall, Who was Fritz Kraemer, The man who influenced Conservative Foreign Policy for 50 years and counting ( Tape Series 6 Special Edition)
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Fritz Kraemer, was a mysterious figure, here described in Wikipedia
"He was always flamboyant and eccentric. Kraemer wore a monocle and it became his trademark"
" Kraemer was described as the father of the neo-conservative movement in US foreign policy.[6] Kraemer was unswerving in his contempt for “provocative weakness,” warning that U.S. military weakness invites aggression by America’s enemies. He also railed against forsaking one’s principles through compromise or conciliation.[7] "
He was the mentor of Henry Kissinger, who turned on his student due to his belief that the policy of Detente was wrong , and that our departure from Vietnam showed weakness.
That rift, represented by the Kissinger and Kraemer wings of conservative foreign policy thought, has shown itself in the conservative movement, again and again, for over a half century. It was never healed when Kraemer died at age 95 in 2003.
In this episode , thanks to the scholarly work of Dr. Luke Nichter, we will get a full look at who Fritz Kraemer was, his influence which is still felt today, and finally we will hear him in a half hour meeting with President Richard Nixon as the two men talk about the foreign policy that Nixon was creating in the 1970's. It is a fascinating meeting.
Let's get to know him, shall we..
184 episode