Richard Nixon Eats With Chopsticks (1972)
From Feb. 21-28, 1972, President Richard Nixon made a pivotal state visit to the People’s Republic of China, spending several days with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai. This trip was vital in opening a dialogue between the two nations, and came as a result of China’s efforts to take a greater role on the global stage. The communist country had been insular, cutting itself off from the First World and silencing opposition within its borders. But in the years since this photo has taken, the Middle Kingdom has become one of the dominant superpowers on the global stage.