Xi Jinping’s purge of Fu Zhenghua – the party boss in charge of China’s vast security and legal apparatus – reveals a paranoia worthy of his idols Mao Zedong and Joseph Stalin. But to avoid disaster, Xi should remember the cautionary tale of another politician central to China’s story: Richard Nixon.

Nixon’s 1972 “go to China” moment should have defined his presidency. But even the Oval Office provided no security from enemies he saw conspiring everywhere. Only months after visiting Beijing, his obsession to “use any means” necessary against his political opponents would destroy his entire legacy via Watergate.