So stated Henry Kissinger publicly, and just eleven days prior to the 1972 Presidential Election.
Nixon did not approve as he felt that Kissinger was hogging the limelight through the announcement, however Kissinger noted that the North Vietnamese had already published the text of the draft agreement.
Unbeknownst to the public, neither Nixon or Kissinger believed that the Republic of Vietnam had any chance of holding out long term against North Vietnam, and they were putting heavy pressure on the South Vietnamese, who had little faith in their abilities themselves to cooperate.
Igor Sikorsky, aviation giant and developer of helicopters, died on this day at age 83.
Sikorsky was born in Kyiv to Russian parents. His father was an internationally known psychiatrist and his mother a physician, meaning he was born into an unusual family for the era. He was drawn to aviation very early in his life and studied in Paris. He worked in Paris during World War One and did not return to Russia due to the Russian Revolution, immigrating to the United States in 1919. His first wife accordingly divorced him, as she remained in Russia with their daughter.
Sikorsky's pioneering work in helicopters would end up being of enormous benefit to his adopted country, and his company still is a leader in heavy helicopters.
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