"I call it the madman theory, Bob”

These words, supposedly uttered by Richard Nixon, and recounted by his chief-of-staff Bob Haldeman, have perhaps never been as relevant as they are today. 

And they go to the question: Can a powerful leader who we think is a bit crazy, actually make the world a better place? As Nixon thought he might be able to achieve?

Enter Donald Trump. 

The current president of the United States is set to put to the test what’s dubbed the ‘madman theory’ like never before.

Today, foreign affairs correspondent Matthew Knott on whether Trump’s volatile approach to geopolitics will produce vital victories, or whether his perceived crazy is just a little too…mad.

For more:
'Trump’s happy to play the ‘madman’ to restore global order. But will it work?'

Audio credit:
'The truth about the "madman theory'', Richard Nixon Foundation

"I call it the madman theory, Bob&rdquo;
These words, supposedly uttered by Richard Nixon, and recounted by his chief-of-staff Bob Haldeman, have perhaps never been as relevant as they are today.&nbsp;
And they go to the question: Can a powerful leader who we think is a bit crazy, actually make the world a better place? As Nixon thought he might be able to achieve?
Enter Donald Trump.&nbsp;
The current president of the United States is set to put to the test what&rsquo;s dubbed the &lsquo;madman theory&rsquo; like never before.
Today, foreign affairs correspondent Matthew Knott on whether Trump&rsquo;s volatile approach to geopolitics will produce vital victories, or whether his perceived crazy is just a little too&hellip;mad.
For more:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-s-happy-to-play-the-madman-to-restore-global-order-but-will-it-work-20250127-p5l7gw.html">'Trump&rsquo;s happy to play the &lsquo;madman&rsquo; to restore global order. But will it work?'</a></li>
</ul>
Audio credit:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPQcdXQCsk0">'The truth about the "madman theory'', </a>Richard Nixon Foundation</li>
</ul>

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

A 'madman' or a player: Trump and the Nixon ploy at work

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/4a5023bb-cc4b-4f29-b56a-b284003eb4d7/transcript

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