Where a Future President Learned About the World

November 1, 1974
I went to call on [then-Vice Premier] Deng Xiaoping. He was a very short man. As we walked in we were ushered over in the middle of the room for a picture. Holdridge and I were flanking the very short Deng. We then moved on into the reception room where we had a long, good discussion with the Vice Premier … I gave him my thesis that there must be visible manifestations of progress for our China policy, so [as to] avoid some of the hyper-microscopic analyses that we are getting on other policies in the States. Deng seemed very much in control, clicking off minute agricultural population statistics, concerned about India, thought we hadn't done enough at the time of the India-Pakistan war. I was too polite to ask them what they had done.

November 3, 1974
One of our men had an incident at the [Ming] Tombs yesterday. He was stopped by a PLA [People's Liberation Army] man as he drove with his front wheels just past the line that says "no foreigners pass here" … A two and a half hour hassle followed, when finally other officers arrived and he was permitted to leave … [It] shows you the other side of the friendship, banquets and great decency. There is this other regimented, inflexible, unreasonable side … Another example. I asked for a map for my office. [State Department General Services officer] Mo Morin gave one to one of the Chinese to put on a frame. The carpenter came back and berated Morin saying that Taiwan was a different color from the rest of China and therefore the map was bad, etc. This process went on for quite a while and Mo could do nothing but take it.

November 17, 1974
It is annoying beyond belief to read the attacks in the Red News on the United States. China feels it must attack the United States—imperialist, exploiter of small nations, etc. I just have this inner feeling that these Chinese leaders do not subscribe to that view in its entirety … How does one balance that with their desire for frankness in dealing, their desire for openness, their desire to "keep their word" etc.? Also, would China understand it if we struck back in these areas? We don't do it and I am not convinced we should. But I am wondering how they would feel if we attacked their closed system … the total lack of individual freedom.

November 26, 1974
People on his staff are scared to death of Kissinger. It is unbelievable. Too much so … "Is he coming? Is he coming? Is he late? Is he late?" Nobody is willing to bite the bullet and speak up … Pressures on him are immense, and the accomplishments immense, so one forgives the eccentric things. But there is a certain graciousness that is lacking. No question about it.

I attend, sitting next to the Secretary, meetings with Deng Xiaoping. Kissinger is brilliant in these talks. Tremendous sweep of history and a tremendous sweep of the world situation. He is at his best. It is a great contrast to the irritating manner he has of handling people. In the Wednesday morning meeting: "I want my staff. I want them all in this room. I want them right here now. Where are they?" All kinds of yelling of that nature goes on. I guess it is the way he keeps from getting ulcers at the pace he is working at.

December 16, 1974
The archeological exhibit, the agreement for which I signed when I first came from the U.S., went to the U.S. It is beautifully presented apparently in the [National] Gallery in Washington, but we blew a great opportunity to stand up for freedom of the press. The Chinese insisted that Israel, South Africa, South Korea journalists and one other not be permitted to go to the pre-press preview. So instead of standing up and insisting on it some deal was cut between the gallery, the State Department, and the Chinese under which the Chinese had their way. We must not capitulate on matters this fundamental in the United States … China is very vulnerable on human rights excesses just as the Soviet Union was. Some day sure as can be the Congress will turn its attention to these aspects of the Chinese policy. We must therefore not permit them to flaunt their way in the United States.