Chapter 9 Won the hearts of the American people - Deng Xiaoping and Bush (1)

The name Bush is already very familiar to the Chinese.Because in the past 8 years, two people with the same name "Bush" became presidents in the United States, and they are father and son.The relationship between Bush Sr. and China makes the Chinese feel that there is some kind of "fate". The 41st President of the United States, George Bush, was born on June 12, 1924 in Milton, Massachusetts.On this day in 1942, he had just graduated from Phillips Middle School. After listening to Henry Stimson's graduation speech on World War II, he resolutely signed up to join the army and became a second-class sailor. In June 1943, Bush graduated from the Naval Air Force School in North Carolina and was awarded the rank of second lieutenant.Soon, he was assigned to the Navy's VT-51 unit, and with the squadron from the "San Jacinto" aircraft carrier, he went to the Pacific Ocean to participate in the battle against Japan. military facility. On September 2, 1944, the Bush crew was ordered to air strike the Japanese military airport and communication facilities on the Chichijima Islands of the Ogasawara Islands.After risking their lives, Bush and his comrades continued to drop bombs on the target, and then parachuted to escape.Bush, who had been soaked in seawater for three hours, was fortunately rescued by the submarine "Fin Whale" under the cover of several other planes, and escaped from death without becoming a prisoner of the Japanese army.But his two comrades-in-arms were killed and eaten after being captured by the Japanese army.

On September 18, 1945, Bush was demobilized and returned home.The 21-year-old "World War II" hero who flew 1,228 hours, made 126 take-offs and landings on aircraft carriers, and performed 58 combat missions entered Yale University.After graduation, Bush started to do business, and after making a fortune, he started to enter politics.Although he lost the election for the federal senator at the end of 1970, he was promised by President Nixon to serve in the government.In the end, Bush himself chose the US ambassador to the United Nations, and was appointed by the White House on December 11, 1970.From then on, this "election loser, a millionaire with little diplomatic experience, became the highest-ranking ambassador of the United States", began a new stage of life.And thus forged an indissoluble bond with China.

Bush felt that Deng Xiaoping was "a heroic fighter from Sichuan Province in southwest China" who "possessed a superb ability to grasp the optimal balance between toughness and flexibility". As early as 1975, Bush felt: "The one who is most likely to inherit the highest power after Mao and Zhou in the future is none other than Deng Xiaoping." When Bush first arrived at the United Nations in the spring of 1971, China's representative seat in the United Nations was still occupied by the U.S.-backed Taiwan Kuomintang government.As the US ambassador to the United Nations, Bush was racking his brains to keep the Taiwan authority's seat in the UN General Assembly, but Nixon and Kissinger were secretly planning a major historic visit, which was Nixon's visit in February 1972. China.This news not only shocked the whole world, but also surprised Bush who was kept in the dark! On November 15, 1971, when Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua attended the United Nations General Assembly as the head of the new China's delegation to the United Nations, he received a warm welcome.At this time, there was no official diplomatic relationship between China and the United States, and Bush acted as the spokesperson for the United States to obstruct the restoration of the new China's legal seat in the United Nations, so he was unable to have a formal meeting with the Chinese delegation.So, privately arranged by officials of the United Nations Protocol Department, Bush had a subtle "natural" meeting with the head of the Chinese delegation, Qiao Guanhua, in the "United Nations Corridor" of the UN representative's rest area——Bush pretended to make a phone call there, When Qiao Guanhua and his entourage passed by, he got up and introduced himself and expressed his welcome. After the two parties shook hands politely, they parted naturally.This is the first time Bush has shaken hands with a Chinese since he entered politics.From this precious photo, we can still feel the demeanor of Qiao Guanhua, the "diplomatic genius" who was called "Master Qiao" by Mao Zedong at that time, and the handsomeness of Bush in his youth.

But just when Nixon was in full swing --- opening the door to Sino-US relations and winning the re-election of the president, the "Watergate Incident" happened.Bush, as chairman of the Republican National Committee, had to be the first Republican leader to formally urge Nixon to resign after a complicated struggle. Things have to start from the beginning.When the truth of the "Watergate Incident" is gradually revealed, Bush, who is the chairman of the Republican National Committee, is likely to become a victim on the altar of the president.But Bush has always adhered to principles and handled this matter carefully and properly. He could not and did not betray his old friend Nixon.At the critical moment when Nixon was facing impeachment and resignation, Bush thought about the future of the Republican Party and out of his loyalty to Nixon, he still mustered up the courage to write a letter of advice to the president with his independent character.At the cabinet meeting on August 6, 1974, Nixon still firmly stated that he would neither resign nor accept impeachment.Bush, who attended the meeting, did not say a word at the meeting, expressing silence on this.After the meeting, he quietly handed a pre-written letter to Nixon from his pocket, and told the president, "You can read it when you go back."

When Nixon returned, he opened Bush's letter in his Oval Office.According to later declassified information, Bush’s letter reads as follows: Dear President: This is my deliberate judgment: you should resign immediately.Perhaps, in a situation where you stand alone, it may seem to you an act of disloyalty from someone you have supported and helped in many ways.But my point is this: I would be unfit to serve a President whose great accomplishments I will always respect and whose family I love without telling you my judgment.Until now, you have not responded to your resignation at all. However, considering the impact of the outcome of the matter, resignation is the last, and what I firmly feel now, the most beneficial behavior for the country and the party.I believe this view is also the opinion of the majority of Republican leaders across the country. …if you resign from public office, history will record your deeds with enduring respect.

Obviously, Bush's letter played an extremely important role in Nixon's last-minute decision to resign without being impeached.The next day, Nixon overturned his statement that he would not resign with a strong sentiment at the cabinet meeting and decided to resign. On August 8, Nixon delivered his resignation speech to the nation. According to the U.S. Constitution, the vice president is selected and appointed by the president.Ford, Nixon's unelected vice president, became the new president.At that time, Ford had already organized a "kitchen cabinet", and he had considered Bush as a candidate for the vice president.But out of various considerations, Ford chose Rockefeller as vice president.Ford knew that Bush played an important role in Nixon's decision to resign without being impeached, and he and Bush were good friends, so he couldn't neglect how to arrange Bush.When Ford officially formed a cabinet, Bush himself really wanted to get the position of vice president.

A few days later, Bush received a call from Ford at home, saying that he was ready to announce the appointment of Rockefeller as vice president and hoped to meet with him as soon as possible to "discuss future arrangements."One can imagine Bush's mood after he put down the phone.But he still didn't care about anything.He discussed it with his wife Barbara, and they both felt that the most ideal "future arrangement" was to leave Washington and get rid of everything that had just happened in the White House, and the farther the better.Because what made him uncomfortable was being chairman of the Republican National Committee in the final months of the Nixon administration, which seemed like a political nightmare.The couple also discussed privately that if the president gave them a choice of foreign positions, they would choose to go to the Far East.They analyzed that although the ambassadorship in London or Paris is eminent and enviable, many people are vying for it, and it is good for their personal future, the difference is that both of them thought of asking for it. go to Beijing.

This choice is somewhat surprising.Why does Bush want to go to Beijing?This really corresponds to a Chinese proverb: If you don't fight, you don't know each other.During his two years as ambassador to the United Nations, the most important event that happened was that the People’s Republic of China resumed its legal seat in the United Nations. This was also the heaviest diplomatic failure for him and the United States.American writers commented on Bush in his biography: "He tried his best and fought bravely to prevent this from happening, but in the end he had to muster up the courage to accept it with the best grace." Fact.” At that time, Bush’s U.S. delegation put forward the so-called “double representation” proposal, that is, the U.S. welcomed the People’s Republic of China to obtain a seat in the United Nations, but did not agree to expel Taiwan.The delegations that supported the new China united to boycott the US proposal.According to reports, Bush took great pains to pass this proposal. Sometimes he hugged the head of the delegation of this country and talked affectionately, and then invited the head of that country to drink coffee. Bargaining and getting a bargain from it.Representatives of some countries even hope that the United States will find a job for their relatives and friends in the United States.

However, many countries were puzzled and even dissatisfied with Bush asking them not to support Beijing, because at the same time, Nixon was trying to solicit relations with Beijing behind their backs, and Dr. Kissinger's second visit to Beijing was in full swing. When the final number of votes was announced on the electronic screen in the United Nations Conference Hall on October 25, representatives from many countries jumped up and cheered. jig.Bush and his aides sat in the front row of the US delegation like deflated balls, frustrated and miserable.According to someone's recollection, the tall U.S. chief representative to the United Nations yelled angrily: "Bitch!" People shot down the same.Later, when he heard that Chinese newspapers described the U.S. representative as "like an ant on a hot pot" in the UN General Assembly debate, he laughed loudly, thinking about this Chinese sentence and murmured: "Ant? On the pot?" He felt that the Chinese language was so vivid.

Later, the Chinese delegation soon came to the United Nations.Qiao Guanhua's speech at the General Assembly for the first time condemned both the United States and the Soviet Union.He and "Master Joe" met and shook hands "naturally" in the "United Nations Corridor".The next day he saw a cartoon in an American newspaper. In the cartoon, the Soviet representative Malik and he sat behind their respective desks making faces, while "Master Joe" poured a bucket of water on their heads. As the US ambassador to the United Nations, Bush suffered a complete failure in preventing the new China from returning to the United Nations in 1971, but he has forged an indissoluble bond with China since then.After Qiao Guanhua returned to China, Huang Hua stayed in New York as China's representative to the United Nations.Bush recalled in his autobiography: "The first time I met Huang Hua was in the aisle of the United Nations Building. Someone from the protocol department introduced us to each other. The second time we met was in the apartment of the French ambassador, attending five meetings of the Security Council. The permanent council meeting. The French ambassador introduced him to me. Then he was introduced to the Soviet ambassador Marek. The Chinese put his hand behind his back. Marek's face was flushed, as if he had been punched hard in the jaw. The French ambassador promptly covered up the embarrassment, and took us to another room for tea."

Perhaps it was this failure at the UN General Assembly that touched him and gave him a strong desire to understand this country, which accounts for a quarter of the world's population.Since then, Bush has discreetly entertained Chinese representatives.They also rewarded him.At that time, Beijing and Washington did not have any liaison organization, but Bush even led this group of Chinese people to the countryside and to the sanctuary for birds and animals. Therefore, when Ford asked him to go to the White House to discuss his "future", he and Barbara had already discussed that if he wanted to be an ambassador abroad, he would go to China. In his autobiography, Bush described the interview with President Ford as follows: I arrived in the Oval Office, and the President first thanked me for my work as chairman of the Republican National Committee, and then told me that I had two important diplomatic posts, one as ambassador to Britain and the other as ambassador to France. But I have other plans.David Bruce, director of the China Liaison Office, is leaving.I told the president that if I had a choice, I would take the job. Ford flicked his cigar, raised his head, and asked, "Go to China?" He was obviously surprised. "Yes. China." I repeated, "Whenever conditions are right, I would like to go." Ford was of course surprised that I asked to go to China.At that time, China and the United States had not yet established formal diplomatic relations. It was not difficult for Ford to appoint this position, because this was not an official ambassador to a foreign country and did not need to be voted by the Senate. Ford looked at me and said with a smile: "People have come to ask me to go to London and Paris. Of course I can consider your wish to go to Beijing, but this needs to be negotiated with Kissinger. I will discuss with Kissinger Secretary of State. Let me say hello and let you know officially." After I heard this, I was taken aback for a moment, but I didn't say anything in front of the president. Because Bush has opinions on Kissinger's monopoly on China's diplomacy.He later said: "If you were in the Ford administration in the mid-1970s and the word 'China' came out of your mouth, you knew that Henry Kissinger's tentacles would twitch no matter where the doctor was— —Cairo, Jerusalem, or Paris. China was Henry's secret diplomatic domain, and it was there that the Doctor achieved his greatest diplomatic achievements." Bush knew that if he really went to Beijing, he would have to deal with Kissinger, because all the affairs of the US government related to China must pass his supervision and approval.Before going to Beijing, he wanted to learn more about some important documents of US-China relations, such as the transcript of the conversation between Nixon and Mao Zedong that led to the signing of the 1972 Shanghai Communiqué.But upon inquiring, the documents were strictly controlled by Kissinger's subordinates.For this reason, he had to do everything possible to read these documents in the private office of Richard Solomon, a senior official of the National Security Council, whose degree of secrecy can be imagined.And one month after he flew to Beijing to take office on October 21, 1974, Kissinger came to Beijing again. Bush once said in his diary: "The General Assembly's voting on China's representation is definitely not good for me, although we have been getting along well with them since China entered the United Nations." China --- served as the director of the US Liaison Office in China.This liaison office is a representative office agreed upon by China and the United States on February 22, 1973, to be established in each other's capital. On May 1, 1973, the Liaison Office began to work officially. After the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in 1979, it was upgraded to the embassy of the two countries. On October 17, 1974, the Bushes left the United States to take up their posts in China, starting what their wife Barbara called "the most novel political adventure in their lives".Among the dignitaries in American politics, I am afraid that no one is more familiar with China than Bush. During his stay in China, he and his wife often rode bicycles to and fro in the streets and alleys of Beijing. After Bush arrived in Beijing, he felt that his predecessor, Bruce, kept a low profile and did not even attend the National Day receptions of any foreign diplomatic missions stationed in Beijing. He did not play the role that this "ambassador" should have played, and could not let others know about the presence of the United States in Beijing. .So he began to take the initiative to improve the image of the United States in Beijing's diplomatic circles and promote the United States' China policy.Coincidentally, shortly after Bush arrived in Beijing, he received an invitation to the National Day reception from the Algerian embassy. On November 1, when the Bushes appeared at the reception, the Algerian ambassador "was astonished as if he was about to faint."Bush was happy to meet the Chinese here.later in the day.Bush met with Qiao Guanhua and attended the dinner hosted by Qiao Guanhua for them. That is, the next day, November 2, 1974, Bush and Deng Xiaoping met for the first time.Bush and officials from the Liaison Office visited Deng Xiaoping in the Great Hall of the People.At this time, Deng Xiaoping had just resumed work in 1973, and served as vice premier in charge of the daily work of the State Council.The official visit to Deng Xiaoping was Bush's top priority after taking office.During this meeting, Deng Xiaoping and Bush talked about international political issues, agricultural issues, and the importance of maintaining friendly relations between China and the United States.The atmosphere of the talks was very friendly, and Deng Xiaoping was eloquent.Bush was quite active during the meeting, and he even emphasized that the US's China policy needs to make significant progress, so as to avoid domestic scrutiny like other US policies.Immediately afterwards, Bush successfully hosted the July 4th, 1975 Independence Day reception.At the same time, he hoped and invited more members of the U.S. Congress to visit Beijing, but he was criticized by the State Department for "slapping him in the palm of his hand."During Bush's tenure as the director of the Liaison Office in China, he gained the favor of Mao Zedong and met Mao Zedong twice.On October 19, 1975, when Bush accompanied US Secretary of State Kissinger to meet Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong welcomed him and complained why he didn't come to visit earlier.Bush said he was afraid Chairman Mao was too busy.Mao Zedong invited him to be a guest again on the spot. Kissinger's visit to Beijing this time is to discuss matters with the Chinese side about President Ford's visit to China.Bush participated in the preparatory talks.The main Chinese participant in the talks was Deng Xiaoping, who was the first vice premier of the State Council at the time.Together with Kissinger, Bush had three long talks with Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping, which gave him the opportunity to know Deng Xiaoping directly and appreciate his style and style.Although he had met Deng Xiaoping several times before, this long meeting with Deng Xiaoping obviously left a special deep impression on him.Later, in his autobiographical memoir "The White House: My Goal", when describing the process of Kissinger's advance visit to China, he used more brushwork to describe the meeting between him, Kissinger and others, and Deng Xiaoping. Condition--- On October 19, 1975, Secretary of State Kissinger arrived in Beijing to prepare for President Ford's visit to Beijing later that year.As usual, his agenda was full, and he had to hold three long meetings with Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping within two days to work out the details of the communiqué that President Ford would issue after meeting with Chairman Mao. What will the two most powerful leaders in the world talk about in their talks?No one can come up with a plan.It is common practice for the diplomatic heads of both sides to prepare the outline or terms of the conclusions of the talks before the visiting leaders arrive.This can set the agenda for the meeting and reduce the risk of misunderstandings on important issues. The Chinese side who participated in the Kissinger-Deng Xiaoping talks included Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, and the US side included Phil Habib, the assistant to the Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of State, and me.Before that, I had met Deng Xiaoping a few times, and he was rising to power in China, likely to assume supreme power after the deaths of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai.He smoked and drank tea incessantly, and behaved like one of the common people living in the countryside.This is a heroic fighter from Sichuan Province in Southwest China. Deng Xiaoping had a knack for striking the right balance between toughness and flexibility when meeting foreign leaders.However, in his talks with Kissinger, he was clearly aggressive and used strong language.Incredibly as it may sound, he complained that the US was too weak in the face of the Soviet Union's great threat to world peace.Except for the language difference, it was almost as if I was listening to Barry Goldwater's 1964 speech. Like Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders, Deng Xiaoping expressed concern about the US policy of détente with the Soviet Union.He charged that US policy towards the Russians was similar to that of Britain and France towards Hitler in Munich in 1938.Deng Xiaoping said that this is a policy of "appeasement".Hearing this, Kissinger suddenly raised his head, but kept his balance.He replied: "A country that spends $110 billion a year on defense should not be said to be engaging in some kind of Munich Doctrine. Let me remind you that when you two countries are allied for your own reasons, it is we who are holding back the Soviet Union expansionism." It was a poignant exchange that best illustrates why preparatory talks are needed before the summit.Finally, after clarifying the differences between the United States and China, Kissinger said: "I don't think the visit of the President of the United States will give the impression that our two countries are quarreling." Deng Xiaoping agreed, saying: "There is still time Conduct in-depth and specific consultations." During this meeting, when Mao Zedong was talking with Kissinger, he looked at Bush with great interest and said, "Your director is in a difficult situation in Beijing, why don't you come to see me?" "It's an honor for me to be here tonight," Bush said. "I don't think you'll have time to see the director of liaison because you're busy." Mao Zedong said: "I'm not busy, because I don't have to take care of all routine affairs. I only watch international news. You don't know my temper. I like people to scold me." Mao Zedong raised his voice when he said this, And patted the chair with his hands, "You will definitely say that Chairman Mao is an old bureaucrat. If so, I will meet you sooner. And I will be eager to see you. If you don't scold me, I won't meet you, I'd rather sleep in." However, a week later, the White House called, and a more important post was waiting for Bush --- Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. That day was November 1st.Bush was riding a Chinese-made "Flying Pigeon" bicycle bought by him and his wife. He had just returned from playing tennis and invited some Chinese friends to watch color TV at home.Everyone rode bicycles through the streets and alleys together, and returned home happily.The transfer order from Kissinger in the White House is already on the desk: To Director Bush: The president plans to announce several major personnel changes at 7:30 p.m. Washington time on Monday, Nov. 3.Among them, Bill Colby will be transferred from the CIA. The President is asking you to agree to his decision to nominate you as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The President believes that your appointment will be very beneficial to the country, so he very much hopes that you will accept it.You have been working hard for the country. Like the president, I hope you can accept your new job and make new contributions to the country. Henry Kissinger November 1, 1975 When the Bushes received the telegram, they were greatly surprised: "How can I be the director of the intelligence agency?" There are only two days until the presidential appointment.In such a hurry, it was too late and superfluous to send a telegram to inquire about the details.From Kissinger's words, Bush has realized that it was Washington who asked him to give a quick and affirmative answer. go?Still not going?On the one hand, Bush is worried that this will be the end of his political career?Because a place like the CIA cannot be used as a springboard for promotion in most cases, because of this director, he cannot have any partisan political views.You know, this year, Bush just turned 50 years old, and he was very unwilling to run for vice president.Another worry is that he took the initiative to come to China. To develop Sino-US relations, he is making efforts to "eliminate some factors of suspicion and distrust between the two countries in a low-profile and informal way", and his efforts have not been in vain. Little success was achieved.Now I want to go back to be the chief of intelligence, "What will the Chinese government think? The diplomat Bush has always been a spy?" Indeed, Bush's second worry is normal.When this order was announced, the Chinese guide who often showed Bush in Beijing was greatly surprised: "Mr. Bush has been here for more than a year. Where's the big spy?" Mao Zedong still expressed his affection for Bush. On December 2, when Bush accompanied Ford to meet with Mao Zedong, Mao Zedong smiled and said to Bush during the conversation: "Have you been promoted?" Then he said to President Ford: "We don't want to see him leave." Mao Zedong also asked Bush: "Why don't you come and see me?" As far as Bush was concerned, he felt that this might just be a polite greeting from Chairman Mao Zedong. And Deng Xiaoping understood this very well.When he knew that Bush would be the head of the CIA, on December 6, the second day after President Ford and his party left Beijing, Deng Xiaoping met with Bush in person, praised Bush for his efforts to improve Sino-US relations, and held a private banquet to entertain him. The Bushes, send them off.Huang Zhen and his wife, who were the director of the Chinese Liaison Office in the United States at the time, accompanied them.Many years later, Bush is still grateful for Deng Xiaoping's kindness, because at that time even the ambassadors of some big countries were rarely received such courtesy when they were transferred back to China, and Bush did not yet have the title of ambassador. According to the biography of Bush published in the United States, Deng Xiaoping's private banquet was specifically mentioned, saying: "Deng is very willing to help and respect the Americans in Beijing, which makes him and Bush form a friendship in the Chinese capital that goes beyond work. friendship.” When Bush came to Beijing, it was Deng Xiaoping who had just returned to power, and he was deeply impressed by Deng Xiaoping’s efforts to rectify.Bush respected Deng Xiaoping very much, and once said to people: "He often cannot protect himself." A master at negotiating. The atmosphere of the banquet is relaxed and pleasant.After Deng Xiaoping and Bush exchanged pleasantries, Deng Xiaoping invited Bush to drink Moutai and served him vegetables with chopsticks. Deng Xiaoping said: "Director Bush has only served as the director of the Liaison Office in Beijing for more than a year, not even a term. The time is too short. Our General Huang Zhen has been in Washington for almost three years." Bush said: "Both Barbara and I would like to live longer. I want to visit all the main places in China. Southwest China, including Tibet, is very mysterious." Deng Xiaoping said with a smile: "I am from the country of Sichuan Province in the southwest." Deng Xiaoping told Bush: "Your Excellency is always welcome in China, even if you are the head of the CIA." After Bush returned to China to serve as the director of the CIA, General Huang Zhen also returned to the Chinese Liaison Office in Washington not long after.Bush invited Huang Zhen and his wife Zhu Lin to his home.At this family dinner, Huang Zhen told Bush that Deng Xiaoping was the "Deng" of the famous "Liu and Deng Army" who was the commander of the army during the war years, and he was his old superior.Bush disapproved of Deng Xiaoping being overthrown by the "Gang of Four" at that time, but optimistically said to Huang Zhen: "Mr. It was Deng Xiaoping."