First Impressions: 'Neither of us was very good at cocktail conversation': Henry Kissinger on Richard Nixon. This is the first in a daily series compiled by Catriona Luke

The lawyer from Yorba Linda, California and the government arms control expert from Fuerth, Germany met at a drinks party given by the Republican hostess Clara Booth Luce on 10 December 1967. They spoke for about five minutes. Kissinger regarded Nixon as a parvenu, lacking in culture and intellect, and was anxious to move on to more stimulating company. They did not meet again for a year, when Nixon was President Elect. Kissinger was reported as saying: 'Richard Nixon is the most dangerous of all the men running to have as President.'