David Jackson: Obama follows in the Chinese footsteps of Richard Nixon
[David's journalism career spans three decades, including coverage of five presidential elections, the Oklahoma City bombing, the 2000 Florida presidential recount and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has covered the White House for USA TODAY since 2005. His interests include history, politics, books, movies and college football -- not necessarily in that order.]
Of all the images of the U.S. presidency, few have been more startling than the one seen by millions of Americans on Feb. 21, 1972.
Richard Nixon, who built his early career on anti-communism, stepped from Air Force One in what was then known as Peking, China, opening a door that had been slammed shut with the communist takeover 23 years before.
The echoes of that visit are still heard during President Obama's visit this week to Shanghai and the capital city now known as Beijing.
Obama did not specifically mention Nixon during his town hall in Shanghai, but did discuss recent history.
"Surely, we have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years," Obama said. "Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty. But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined. ... Indeed, because of our cooperation, both the United States and China are more prosperous and more secure."
Nixon and foreign policy guru Henry Kissinger would not be surprised at the economic and military rise of China. The potential of Chinese power is one reason Nixon and Kissinger made their approach to the communist government led by Mao Zedong.
Global politics played another role. Nixon saw a new relationship with China as a way to pressure the Soviet Union....
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Of all the images of the U.S. presidency, few have been more startling than the one seen by millions of Americans on Feb. 21, 1972.
Richard Nixon, who built his early career on anti-communism, stepped from Air Force One in what was then known as Peking, China, opening a door that had been slammed shut with the communist takeover 23 years before.
The echoes of that visit are still heard during President Obama's visit this week to Shanghai and the capital city now known as Beijing.
Obama did not specifically mention Nixon during his town hall in Shanghai, but did discuss recent history.
"Surely, we have known setbacks and challenges over the last 30 years," Obama said. "Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty. But the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined. ... Indeed, because of our cooperation, both the United States and China are more prosperous and more secure."
Nixon and foreign policy guru Henry Kissinger would not be surprised at the economic and military rise of China. The potential of Chinese power is one reason Nixon and Kissinger made their approach to the communist government led by Mao Zedong.
Global politics played another role. Nixon saw a new relationship with China as a way to pressure the Soviet Union....