Roberto Gaslini

Nixon's Visit to China Roberto Gaslini

In February 1972, President Richard Nixon traveled to Beijing for an historic encounter with Chairman Mao Tse-tung, after 23 years of reciprocal antagonism between the United States and China. It was a diplomatic breakthrough, which dramatically changed the balance of power of the big superpowers and opened up China to the rest of the western world. What was the visit's impact on the Sino-Italian relations? How was Nixon's visit perceived in Italy? The aims of the visits Nixon had in his mind were correctly understood and perceived in Italy, in 1972 and in the following 45 years? What was the image Nixon wanted to craft of himself, as an innovator of modern diplomacy and as a geopolitical strategist? How was his personal image perceived and re-interpreted in Italy?