Who was the first US President to visit China, either before, during, or after his tenure in office?

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Originally posted by Doriangreyed:
Who was the first US President to visit China, either before, during, or after his tenure in office?

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If my memory serves me, it was Richard Milhous (I am not a crook) Nixon

Bob

There are at least 2 before Nixon; one went before he was president, and one after he was president.

(I LOVE that thumb!)

In 1898, Herbert Hoover was offered a position as chief engineer of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company. He accepted, but returned to Monterey, CA, where he married Lou Henry on 2/10/1899.

The two landed in Peking in March, 1899. They survived the Boxer Rebellion siege of Tientsin in June and July. After the rebellion, the company reorganized and Hoover became general manager.

He was offered a partnership in a London, England firm in late 1901, and left China shortly after.

Bob

Good research, Bob. You will need it to find the president who was in China before Hoover. Keep going!

By the way, Mrs. Hoover spoke Mandarin fluently, and used it in the White House when she didn't want the staff to know what she was talking about. Herbert didn't speak it as well, but could understand it well enough to get by.

Still looking for the US President who was in China before Hoover went in 1899