A 1971 conversation between President Richard Nixon and a young White House aide named Donald Rumsfeld, where the President offers the ambitious Rumsfeld some career advice:
"The only things that matter in the world are Japan and China, Russia and Europe," Nixon explained. "Latin America doesn't matter. Long as we've been in it, people don't give one damn about Latin America, Don." Stay away from Africa, too, Nixon warned. As for the Middle East, getting involved there carried too many political hazards for a politician. "People think it's for the purpose of catering to the Jewish vote." Nixon told Rumsfeld. "And anyway, there's nothing you can do about the Middle East."From the article "Close-Up: Young Rumsfeld" [not online] in the November 2003 issue of The Atlantic Monthly Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at October 18, 2003 10:54 AM