China Calls

Anne Collins Walker, 1992

In 1971, the United States has no diplomatic relations, and no established route of communication with China. Despite that, in a stunning act of diplomacy, President Richard Nixon announced that he would travel to China to meet with its leaders. China Calls is based on the transcripts of telephone calls between the advance team in Peking and the White House in Washington.

Much is known about Nixon's actual visit to China, but the story of how it all came together has never been told until now. The advance team conquered a monumental task. Welcome to a rare glimpse of the guarded intricacies and exacting details of White House travel.