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President Nixon sought to take advantage of the icy relationship between the Soviet Union and China, and also to open up China to American businessmen.  Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai began to end China’s isolation from the rest of the world by inviting a U.S. table tennis team to tour China in 1971.  President Nixon then stunned the world and his conservative supporters, who opposed communism, by supporting membership in the United Nations for Communist China (the “People’s Republic of China”).

President Nixon sought to take advantage of the icy relationship between the Soviet Union and China, and also to open up China to American businessmen.  Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai began to end China’s isolation from the rest of the world by inviting a U.S. table tennis team to tour China in 1971.  President Nixon then stunned the world and his conservative supporters, who opposed communism, by supporting membership in the United Nations for Communist China (the “People’s Republic of China”).

In 1972, President Nixon became the first American president to travel to Communist China.  By 1979 there were diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

In 1972, President Nixon became the first American president to travel to Communist China.  By 1979, there were diplomatic relations between the United States and China.

Also in 1972, Nixon traveled to the Soviet Union and signed an arms agreement with the Soviet Union to reduce the numbers of nuclear weapons.  This agreement was “SALT I,” representing the “Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.”  These apparently friendly dealings between the arch-enemies United States and the Soviet Union were described with the French word of “détente” (relaxation in tension between nations).  For centuries French was the language of diplomacy in Europe and its vocabulary offered the best terms.   

Also in 1972, Nixon traveled to the Soviet Union and signed an arms agreement with the Soviet Union to reduce the numbers of nuclear weapons.  This agreement was “SALT I,” representing the “Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.”  These apparently friendly dealings between the arch-enemies United States and the Soviet Union were described with the French word of “détente” (relaxation in tension between nations).  For centuries French was the language of diplomacy in Europe and its vocabulary offered the best terms.