It is difficult to decided whether to give this book 4 or 5 stars, because one will naturally compare Nixon in China to Margaret MacMillan's previous book, Paris 1919. And Paris 1919, a monumental work in every way, is a FivePlus. To review this shorter work of history on its own terms, it is probably safe to grant a near 5.
The Peace Conference in Paris lasted six months. Nixon left the United States on 17 February 1972 and returned ten days later. What was accomplished at the two meetings was very different and how they affected world politics even more so.
On the cover of Nixon in China we see a close up of Nixon facing Mao. This image has been photo-shopped to make them appear closer than they actually did when shaking hands. It was a brief meeting; Nixon and Kissinger met Mao only once and for an hour. The rest of Nixon's time in China was spent meeting with Chou En-lai, sight-seeing, plotting against the US State Department, or hanging around waiting to see Chou. After much diplomatic dancing, a strained Communique was agreed upon. One wonders what all the fuss was about.
But 35 years ago, Nixon's "surprise" visit to China was a huge event. These were the arch rivals for the two dominant political systems that had been isolated diplomatically for decades. Margaret MacMillan not only records Nixon's visit with facinating details, but explains how the meeting came about through the convoluted secret efforts of Henry Kissinger.
We learn of the sad internal war between Nixon/Kissinger and the State Department headed by William Rogers. This trip to China was to be all about Nixon and he did not want any help from Rogers and his professional diplomats. We see Mao in decline in both health and reputation; he is as isolated in the Forbidden City with his mistresses as the emperor he replaced. Beijing is bleak and cold and the countryside impoverished. Nixon, despite his love of international affairs, is impatient to get the historic meetings over with and has no interest in the culture of the country he is visiting. The wives of the two leaders are bitter and lonely. Meanwhile, Kissinger and Chou do all the legwork.
The author includes some charming notes about the foreign diplomats who were in China ahead of Nixon, such as those from Canada, Mexico, and the UK. Their experience was of course not consulted by the Americans. She also explains how the Soviet Union felt being left out of all the festivities.
Reading this book, one sees how far China has come to its export dominance today. For instance, the US advance party had to bring into China everything it required to communicate with the outside world, from media equipment to photocopiers. The Chinese, incredibly, were still copying documents by hand.
One complaint I do have about this book is the poor quality of photographs reproduced. I am not sure if this is because they are pulled from video sources or the publisher could not get good resolution from negatives provided to the author from the State Department. But this is a quibble; reading this book was a pleasure. Nixon's reputation was devoured by Watergate and his international achievements largely taken with it. His trip to China is now restored by historical perspective.
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