Feb. 21, 1972, Mao's residence, the first meeting between Nixon and Mao, as arranged by Kissinger.

Nixon: I have read the chairman's poems and speeches, and I knew he was a professional philosopher. (The Chinese laugh.)

Mao (looking at Kissinger): He is a doctor of philosophy?

Nixon: He is a doctor of brains.

Mao: What about asking him to be the main speaker today?

Nixon: He is an expert in philosophy.

Kissinger: I used to assign the chairman's collective writings to my classes at Harvard.

Mao: Those writings of mine aren't anything. There is nothing instructive in what I wrote.

Nixon: The chairman's writings moved a nation and have changed the world.

Mao: I haven't been able to change it. I've only been able to change a few places in the vicinity of Beijing. . . . We two must not monopolize the whole show. It won't do if we don't let Kissinger have a say. You have been famous about your trips to China.

Kissinger: It was the president who set the direction. . . .

Nixon: He is a very wise assistant to say it that way. (Mao laughs).

Mao: He is praising you, saying you are clever.

Nixon: He doesn't look like a secret agent. He is the only man in captivity who could go to Paris 12 times and Peking once and no one knew it except possibly a couple of pretty girls. (Prime Minister Chou En-lai laughs.) … Anyone who uses pretty girls as a cover must be the greatest diplomat of all time.

Mao (who had had many concubines): So your girls are very often made use of?

Nixon: His girls, not mine. It would get me into great trouble if I used girls as a cover.

Chou (laughing): Especially during elections.