The high-speed jet technology built into these aircraft enabled presidents from Eisenhower through Nixon to travel long distances more quickly for face-to-face meetings with world leaders.[23] Then Vice President Richard Nixon first used a VC-137A on his visit to Russia in July 1959 for the Kitchen Debates, and Eisenhower flew aboard SAM 970 during his "Flight to Peace" goodwill tour in December 1959. He visited 11 Asian nations, flying 22,000 miles (35,000 km) in 19 days, about twice as fast as he could have covered that distance via one of the Columbines.[2][24]