1972: President Nixon and the China moment

Who remembers Air Force One landing in China this week in 1972?  What a photo.  What a TV image for those who remember that day.

We celebrate another anniversary of President Nixon's trip to China. 

It is still one of the most incredible presidential trips in US history.  Can you think of another one more unexpected or revolutionary?

President Nixon built his career as an anti-communist and strong supporter of the US military superiority.  He was the last person in the world that any would have expected to go to China and shake Mao's hand.

Well, he did and changed international relations.  

His visit to China also created the political phrase or the "Nixon to China" moment.  It became a phrase to describe a presidential move that went against conventional wisdom.

Pres. Nixon's motives were to improve relations with China and divide the two communist superpowers.  He also understood the potential of China, diplomatically and economically.   Eventually, we developed our relationship with China but kept strong ties with Taiwan with care and diplomacy.

Today, China is an emerging superpower with a billion people and lots of challenges.  Time will tell whether China will continue to grow or blow up from within.  Again, time will tell.

Nevertheless, it was an amazing moment this week in 1972.

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1972: Nixon to China

Who remembers Air Force One landing in China this week in 1972?   It was quite a TV image for those who remember that day.

We celebrate another anniversary of President Nixon’s trip to China.  

It is still one of the most incredible presidential trips in US history.  Can you think of another one more unexpected or revolutionary?

President Nixon built his career as an anti-communist in the days of The Cold War.  He was the last person in the world that anyone would have expected to go to China and shake Mao’s hand.

His visit also created the phrase “Nixon to China” moment.  It became a popular slogan to describe a presidential move that goes against conventional wisdom.

President Nixon’s motives were to improve relations with China and divide the two communist superpowers.  He also understood the potential of China, diplomatically and economically.   

Today, China is an emerging superpower with a billion people and lots of challenges.  Time will tell whether China will continue to grow or blow up from within.  

Today, the US-China relationship is more complex than ever,  from a trade deficit to a cocky Chinese Navy in the Pacific.  

Nevertheless, it was an amazing moment this week in 1972.

By the way, President Nixon wrote a lot about the trip to China in his wonderful memoirs published in 1978.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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1972: President Nixon in China

One of the benefits of old age is that you remember President Nixon's trip to China in 1972.  

It caught everyone by surprise.  It must be one of the best kept secrets in modern history.

Nobody expected such a move from President Nixon, the anti-communist.  At the same time, it was proof of President Nixon's brilliance and his ability to look forward and promote US interests.

Again, I'm old enough to remember watching the scenes on the evening news.  It's amazing how China has changed, from all of those people in bicycles to huge cities polluted by industries and cars.   

Was it the right thing to do?    We are still debating that today.   

We remember Henry Kissinger, who became Secretary of State a year later in 1973.  Also, President Nixon discussed the trip in his memoirs.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

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1972: The 'Nixon to China' moment

On this day in 1972, President Richard M. Nixon made history by landing in China. 

It was the story of the year and one of the most interesting foreign-policy decisions of the post-war period.  After all, who would have believed that anti-communist Nixon would shake hands with Mao?

President Nixon's move paved the way for the China of today. In other words, cars instead of bicycles and skyscrapers instead of simple buildings. It also contributed to the outsourcing of thousands of manufacturing jobs, i.e. "Made in China" is everywhere!  

The jury is still out on just how much the U.S. got out of this arrangement.   Nevertheless, as Seth Mandel wrote a couple of years ago, President Nixon left us with a great expression, or  ".....any major politician’s rebuke to his ideological compatriots, no matter how superficial, is a “Nixon-to-China moment.”"

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2015: Valentines Day show

  2015:  Our 3rd annual Valentines Day show........ http://t.co/w5FxF8p2bd

— Silvio Canto, Jr. (@SCantojr) February 12, 2015

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February 9, 1964: Over 70 million people watched The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show"

It was February 1964 and Mr Sullivan introduced the US to The Beatles:  73 million Americans watched them!

It was stunning and a "game changer" as people like to say.    By the way, you can get the entire Ed Sullivan performances here!

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Buddy Holly 1936-1959: He is still making fans years later!

In 1972, Don McClean introduced our generation to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in the # 1 song"American Pie". 

It started like this:     

"A long, long time ago...I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while. But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step. I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside The day the music died."

The "day the music died" was years ago, a big triple loss for pop music. 

McClean's tune got me very interested in Buddy Holly, a native of West Texas.

 

I bought his records. I visited his grave during a business trip to West Texas about 20 years ago. I have followed the creation of The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, TX.

 

I learned that Paul McCartney was also a huge fan of Buddy Holly. He toured England in 1958!

 

The Beatles recorded Holly's "Words of Love" in one of their early LP's. The Rolling Stones recorded "Not fade away", another of Holly's songs.

 

Buddy Holly was only 22 but ".....In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Holly #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time."

 

You can hear Buddy Holly's influence in every rock song recorded over the years. You can specially hear it in garage bands or every 15-year old who has played a rock guitar.

 

Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper were killed in the same plane crash. They were not as popular as Holly but Valens had incredible potential since he was only 17!

 

The day "the music died", a sad day in the history of rock.

 

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

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