A Journey For Peace
It is generally accepted that President Richard Nixon's greatest legacy is in the field of foreign affairs. A highlight of this legacy was his achievement of a peaceful relationship with communist China after its 25 years of isolation by free-world nations. The dramatic moment marking this new relationship was February 21, 1972, when President Nixon stepped off Air Force One in Peking and shook hands with Premier Chou En-lai.
Throughout many centuries, political control of China has often been determined by internal armed conflict. General Chiang-Kai-shek had gained control over most of China in the 1930's, but he was being challenged by a radical group of Chinese communists under the leadership of Mao Tse-tung. During World War II, these two adversaries had a tacit agreement to forego their differences to combat the Japanese.
Following Japan's surrender in 1945, China adopted a new democratic Constitution. Under this Constitution, Chiang Kai-shek was elected President in 1948 and was recognized as the legal head of the Chinese Nationalist Government. However, the Communist forces continued to grow and with arms provided by the Soviets, were able to gain control of China in 1949. Chiang Kai-shek withdrew to the island of Formosa and set up Nationalist headquarters. Mainland China became a dictatorship under Mao Tse-tung who named their new government The People's Republic of China. For the next 25 years, the United States refused to recognize the communists as the legitimate government of China.
At the end of World War II, communist nations were viewed as a unified ideology with the powerful Soviet government as leader. Under United States leadership, treaties were formed with other free-world nations who adopted the policy of containment of communism, stating that a Soviet attack against one free-world nation would be considered an attack against all free-world nations.
Throughout 25 cold-war years, Richard Nixon had been a staunch anti-Communist, but as President he began to view communist nations not as a unified ideology, but as individual entities, each with unique roles in world affairs. He was convinced that communism would eventually fail and felt that beyond the cold-war years, the world needed a structure for peace in which free and communist nations would coexist in a world of friendly and fair trade. He felt that peace with communist China would weaken its ties with the Soviets, improve his chances of ending the war in Vietnam, and contribute to world peace and stability. His "Journey for Peace" was successful and accomplished these goals.
Richard Nixon symbolized the American dream, rising from very humble beginnings to that of President of the United States. Personality problems led him into the Watergate scandal, causing him to resign the presidency, which tainted his history and legacy. But he continued to work for world peace until his death. He deserves our thanks for his love of country, his service during World War II, his lifelong dedication to freedom, his post cold-war vision for world peace and his achievements in foreign affairs.