Título: Richard Nixon
Seção: China
Background: Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9, 1913 in Yorba Linda, California, in a house that was built by his father. His parents were Hannah (Milhous) Nixon and Francis A. Nixon. His mother was a Quaker, and his father converted from Methodism to the Quaker faith. Nixon was a descendant of the early American settler, Thomas Cornell, who was also an ancestor of Ezra Cornell, the founder of Cornell University, as well as of Jimmy Carter and Bill Gates.

Conteúdo: Nixon laid the groundwork for his overture to China before he became president, writing in Foreign Affairs a year before his election: "There is no place on this small planet for a billion of its potentially most able people to live in angry isolation." Assisting him in this venture was his National Security Advisor and future Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, with whom the President worked closely, bypassing Cabinet officials. With relations between the Soviet Union and China at a nadir--border clashes between the two took place during Nixon's first year in office--Nixon sent private word to the Chinese that he desired closer relations. A breakthrough came in early 1971, when Chairman Mao invited a team of American table tennis players to visit China and play against top Chinese players. Nixon followed up by sending Kissinger to China for clandestine meetings with Chinese officials. On July 15, 1971, it was simultaneously announced by Beijing and by Nixon (on television and radio) that the President would visit China the following February. The announcements astounded the world. The secrecy allowed both sets of leaders time to prepare the political climate in their countries for the contact.  In February 1972, Nixon and his wife traveled to China. Kissinger briefed Nixon for over 40 hours in preparation. Upon touching down, the President and First Lady emerged from Air Force One and greeted Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. Nixon made a point of shaking Zhou's hand, something w

user: Did Nixon travel to China

assistant: July 15, 1971, it was simultaneously announced by Beijing and by Nixon (on television and radio) that the President would visit China the following February.

user: What was he doing there

assistant: they discussed a range of issues.

user: What was one of the issues mentioned

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Where else did Nixon travel

assistant: Nixon toured architectural wonders including the Forbidden City, Ming Tombs, and the Great Wall.

user: Why did he go to these places

assistant: Americans received their first glimpse into Chinese life through the cameras which accompanied Pat Nixon,

user: Were we having issues with China at the time?

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: Did he return to china ever

assistant: The visit ushered in a new era of Sino-American relations.

user: what else can you tell me interesting

assistant: Over 100 television journalists accompanied the president.

user: Where were they going

assistant: China

user: What did they go for

assistant: He said he was suspicious of Kissinger, though the National Security Advisor referred to their meeting as his "encounter with history".

user: Were the news to protect him

assistant: On Nixon's orders, television was strongly favored over printed publications, as Nixon felt that the medium would capture the visit much better than print.