In February 1972, Richard Nixon, the first American president ever to visit China, and Mao Tse-tung, the enigmatic Communist dictator, met for an hour in Beijing. Their meeting changed the course of history and ultimately laid the groundwork for today's complex relationship between the countries.

Maps --Author's note -- Introduction -- ch. 1. Setting out -- ch. 2. Arrival -- ch. 3. Chou En-Lai -- ch. 4. At the Diaoyutai -- ch. 5. Meeting with Mao -- ch. 6. Mao Tse-Tung -- ch. 7. The long freeze -- ch. 8. Breaking the pattern -- ch. 9. The polar bear -- ch. 10. The opening banquet -- ch. 11. Opening moves -- ch. 12. The secret visit -- ch. 13. Getting ready -- ch. 14. Getting down to business -- ch. 15. The irritant : Taiwan -- ch. 16. Indochina -- ch. 17. Haldeman's masterpiece -- ch. 18. Audience reactions -- ch. 19. The Shanghai communiqué -- Conclusion -- Acknowledgments -- Appendix : The communiqué -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index -- Photograph credits.