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19. 1978
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Shoe Dog, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Entrepreneurship, Experience, and Perseverance
Leadership
Global Economies
Balancing Family and Work
Summary
Analysis
Knight goes to the United States Treasury Department, where he meets the man responsible for his problems. Knight does not name the man directly; instead, he refers to him as the “bureau-kraken.” Knight hates the bureau-kraken with all his heart. He thinks the bureau-kraken represents the problem with American government, which seeks to persecute and harass its citizens instead of helping them.
Knight calls the man the “bureau-kraken” because of the man’s love for bureaucracy and overly stringent rules, which Knight despises. Knight thinks the bureau-kraken is harassing Nike because he knows he can rather than because it is the right thing to do.
Themes
While Knight tries to treat the bureau-kraken respectfully, the bureau-kraken does not reciprocate Knight’s respect. He knows he has the power over Knight, and he does everything he can to let him know this is the case. Knight tells the bureau-kraken he will put Nike out of business if he does not intervene, but the bureau-kraken could care less.
Knight feels betrayed because he thinks Nike has become a notable American brand that deserves respect. However, the bureau-kraken does not care about Knight or his company; he only cares about enforcing rules.
Themes
Knight starts spending a lot of his time in and around Washington, D.C. He even reads Werschkul on American Selling Price, Volume I. However, no matter how much lobbying Knight does, nothing seems to move the bureau-kraken. However, in the summer of 1979, Werschkul gets Knight an appointment with Mark O. Hatfield, a senator from Oregon. Hatfield is an important and respected man in Washington, who might be able to help Knight with his bureau-kraken problem.
Although Knight feels he is up against the entire United States government, that is not the case. Werschkul helpfully suggests meeting with Hatfield, presumably because Hatfield is from Oregon, just like Nike, and will have a greater respect for what Knight has built than the bureau-kraken.
Themes
Before his meeting with Hatfield, Knight rehearses what he will say over and over. He does not know what Hatfield will think of him, so he prepares for every question and response he can think of. However, when Knight walks into Hatfield’s office, he finds Hatfield is already on his side. Hatfield asks Knight if there is anything he can do to help Nike. In the moment, Knight realizes this is the one question he did not prepare for because he did not expect Hatfield to be so open to helping Nike. He apologizes and tells Hatfield he will have to get back to him at a later date.
Knight knows his meeting with Hatfield could be one of the most consequential of his life, which is why he prepares endlessly. However, as with his first meeting with Onitsuka, Knight did not need to prepare because Hatfield is already on his side when he walks into the room. Evidently, Hatfield has the respect for Knight and his company that the bureau-kraken lacks, so much so that Knight is not ready for his level of support.
Themes
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The next time Knight goes to Washington, he finds the bureau-kraken is not as dismissive as he was previously. Evidently, Hatfield got in touch with him and ruffled his feathers. The bureau-kraken tells Knight he is sick of hearing from his friends in high places. In response, Knight says that the bureau-kraken will have to get used to it unless he plans on dismissing Nike’s debt. However, still, the bureau-kraken refuses to do anything.
At this point, Knight does not care about being civil with the bureau-kraken. Knight thinks the bureau-kraken wants to ruin his life for no reason, and he has already made important allies in the United States government to help him fight back.
Themes
On top of everything else, Knight also has his eyes on a big prize: China. When thinking of China, he always says to himself: “One billion people. Two. Billion. Feet.” In other words, Knight knows China is a huge untapped market that would truly bring Nike to the next level as a business. In order to tap the Chinese marketplace, Knight hires David Chang, an expert in Chinese business. Chang is rather blunt and has a crude sense of humor, which makes his first visit to Nike headquarters somewhat uncomfortable. However, Knight is sure Chang will be a valuable asset to the team.
Again, Knight constantly works to expand Nike even though Nike might not exist in a year if the United States government has its way. This is the only way Knight knows how to operate, and it works well for him. In particular, Knight understands that China will be a game-changer if he can manage to get his products there. After all, two billion feet is more than enough to pay off Knight’s debt to the government ten times over.
Themes
