Where a Future President Learned About the World

In 1974, George Herbert Walker Bush was a relative neophyte in international affairs. He had most recently been chairman of the Republican National Committee—where he defended Richard Nixon through Watergate—and in the wake of Nixon's resignation he nearly became vice president. As a consolation prize he was offered champagne posts as ambassador in either Paris or London. Instead he chose to go to go to Mao's China, where Washington had recently opened a "liaison office" in lieu of a formal embassy. Bush was, in effect, America's envoy to the vast and mysterious People's Republic.

There, between October 1974 and December 1975, he wrestled with a tough, impenetrable Communist regime; a populace that was alternately warm and xenophobic; and the repercussions of the American defeat in Southeast Asia. The experience began to clarify his views on the workings of the international system—and, most important, America's place within it. He kept a diary by dictating thoughts and impressions into a tape recorder. These will be published in May in "The China Diary of George H.W. Bush," edited and introduced by Jeffrey A. Engel. Excerpts:

October 21, 1974
In going to China I am asking myself, "Am I running away from something … [from] inflation, incivility in the press and Watergate and all the ugliness? Am I taking the easy way out?" The answer I think is "no," because of the intrigue and fascination that is China …

People at the State Department seem scared to death about our China policy. [Secretary of State Henry] Kissinger keeps the cards so close to his chest that able officers … seem unwilling to take any kinds of initiative. It is my hope that I will be able to meet the next generation of China's leaders—whomever they may prove to be. Everyone tells me that that is impossible. But my hyper-adrenaline, political instincts tell me that the fun of this job is going to be to try to do more.

October 22, 1974
Chairman Mao met with Denmark's Prime Minister and there is all kinds of speculation as to where Mao is. The Danes were not at liberty to say, being sworn to secrecy. Some think that Mao was out in the country[side] to see how the [ruling] group in Peking will do. Others feel that he is home because of his advanced years. But the point is people don't know. They speculate about it, they talk about it. Here we are in a country of 800 million people and it is a well-kept secret. At least from our ears. Amazing, absolutely amazing.

October 27, 1974
On Saturday we climbed up the Western Hills with [Foreign Service officer] John and Martha Holdridge. A beautiful but tiring climb. There was a sign at the gate saying, "Do Not Pick the Red Leaves" and yet all through the climb we saw soldiers and kids carrying red leaves. Bright red fall colors. The path and the walk were a bit grubby. There was a lot of dust around. A lot of popsicle wrappers and paper wrappers. It reminded me of some of the spots in New York. I would have thought that the discipline extended to this kind of thing. There are propaganda speakers throughout the whole park.?They were not on at first. When they came on, four kids in gray Mao coats in front of us looked at each other and one of them put his hands up into his ears as if to fend off the announcements.