President Jimmy Carter, former-President Richard Nixon, and Deng Xiaoping during the state dinner for the Vice Premier of China. 1/29/79.
-from the Carter Library
Source: research.archives.gov
Nixon in China
Richard and Pat Nixon’s arrival in Peking, China. Here, President Nixon greets the Chinese troops at the airport. 2/21/7.
Source: research.archives.gov
Lou Henry Hoover’s Report on the Boxer Rebellion
In this letter, Lou Henry Hoover chides college friend Evelyn Wight Allen for her failure to come to China in time for the Boxer Rebellion in June, 1900. The Hoovers — along with 800 European and American citizens — had suffered through a 45 day siege by 30,000 Boxers who had surrounded Tientsin. After an international relief force drove off the Boxers, Mrs. Hoover found time to write an extraordinary letter in which she proudly compared their ordeal with the experiences of Kimberly and Mafeking, two English settlements that had been surrounded for several months during the recent Boer War in South Africa.
Boxer Rebellion observations by future First Lady, Lou Henry Hoover, 08/08/1900
via DocsTeach
Announcing a Controversial Trip to the People’s Republic of China
On July 15, 1971, President Richard Nixon announced to the nation that the People’s Republic of China had invited him to visit China, and he had accepted. He also stated that Henry Kissinger, Assistant for National Security Affairs, had made a secret trip to Peking in order to plan for the visit. His announcement resulted in strong public reactions for and against the President’s planned trip.
Here’s a copy of Nixon’s official announcement in both English and Chinese.
Source: nixonlibrary.gov
George W. Bush and his sister, Doro, visit their father’s Liaison Office in Beijing, Summer 1975. During Gerald R. Ford’s presidency, George H.W. Bush served as the U.S. Liaison in China from 1974-75.
Source: bushlibrary.tamu.edu
Among Xi’an’s Terracotta Army
On this day in 1984, President Reagan became the second U.S. President to visit the People’s Republic of China since the Communist shift of power. 4/26/84
In this photo, Ronald and Nancy Reagan stand among the terracotta figures in Xi’an China. 4/29/84
-from the Reagan Library
Source: reagan.utexas.edu
Cutest Head of State Gift - EVER
The United States received two giant pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, from the People’s Republic of China in April, 1972. The pandas were given as a token of friendship in response to President Nixon’s goodwill trip to China.
First Lady Pat Nixon officially accepted the fuzzy goodwill ambassadors at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. She had been charmed by the pandas she had seen in China and declared at the welcoming ceremony, “I think ‘panda-monium’ is going to break out at the zoo.”
Pat was right, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing were the top attractions at the zoo until their deaths in in the 1990s.
Here, Ling-Ling munches on her snack on her first day in the new Panda House at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. 4/16/1972. Noms.
First Lady Centennial Celebration of Pat Nixon and Lady Bird Johnson
Source: blogs.archives.gov
George and Barbara Bush with their bicycyles in China, where he was serving as Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office. Circa 1974.
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
This happened on Leap Day, 1972: President Nixon meets with China’s Communist Party Leader, Mao Tse- Tung, 02/29/1972
Source: research.archives.gov
President Bush is the first U.S. President to speak live on Chinese Television - February 26, 1989.
Source: presidentialtimeline.org
