Diary Entry - 04/28/1984

Another breakfast meeting because this was Big Casino day—my meeting with Chairman Deng. Nancy went with me for the informal opening. Deng—who has a sense of humor invited her to come back to China without me. Then in our meeting he really waded in critical of our mid-east policy, our treatment of the developing nations etc. & our disarmament failure. He touched a nerve—when it was my turn I corrected him with facts and figures and I meant it. Funny thing happened—he warmed up although he did bring up Taiwan (the only one who did). I told him that was their problem to be worked out—but it must be worked out peacefully. We broke for lunch (he was host) and tho it was scheduled to be a working lunch it became a pleasant social event instead. After lunch we picked up Nancy & were off to the Great Wall. All the way we waved our arms off at the crowds lining the streets to see us & even in the villages after we got in of the country. The Wall has an amazing effect even though you’ve seen photos & movies of it. There is a feeling I cant describe when you stand on it & see it disappear over the mountains in both directions. This evening we hosted a dinner for a mixed group of Americans & Chinese plus Premier Zhao etc. at the Great Wall Hotel which is an American, Chinese partnership venture. The dinner was American—Roast Turkey.