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"One story about the famous meeting with Richard Nixon remained a secret for many years, until Nixon’s memoirs appeared.

The story began in the mid-50’s, when America and China had no diplomatic relations, and there was great hostility between the two nations. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, at a meeting in Geneva, deliberately snubbed Zhou Enlai, refusing to shake his hand. He said that he and Zhou would only meet in a car crash.

Diplomatic memories are long; proud leaders rarely forgive an outright insult like this. So in 1972, Richard Nixon, who knew what had happened in Geneva, made his point as he descended the steps of Air Force One on the tarmac in Beijing.

Chinese protocol required that Premier Zhou Enlai, as the host, should extend a hand to his visitor first. But Nixon moved quickly and took Zhou’s hand warmly, before Zhou could extend it. In his memoir, Nixon said that he wanted to be the first to extend his hand.

Zhou smiled enthusiastically, and accepted the handshake. He was acutely aware of the significance of the President’s gesture, as were a few of those present who knew about the long-ago insult. The visit proceeded with great success.

So it was that the first breakthrough in relations between America and China began with an act of courage, and an act of forgiveness." ----- The Zhou Enlai Peace Institute

This is that story. The story of the day President Richard Nixon arrived in Peking, China with his hand extended and a vision for a better, safer world. This is how it began, 50 years ago this month.  

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