"I'm glad I'm not Brezhnev. Being the Russian leader in the Kremlin. You never know if someone's tape recording what you say"

This quote by Richard M. Nixon is a reflection on the life of Leonid Brezhnev, the leader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982. Nixon is revealing his relief that he is not in Brezhnev's position, as the leader of the Kremlin. Nixon is implying that Brezhnev's life is filled with fear and fear, as he never knows if someone is recording his discussions. This is a reference to the Cold War, where both the United States and the Soviet Union were constantly spying on each other. Nixon is recommending that Brezhnev's life is filled with consistent monitoring and suspicion, and that he is grateful he is not in the exact same position. This quote is a reflection on the paranoia and worry that was present during the Cold War, and how it impacted the lives of those in power.