July 15, 1971: A stunning announcement from President Nixon: He would visit communist China in early 1972. Nixon's journey to China, arguably the most dramatic trip ever taken by a president, opened the door for increased ties and competition between the two superpowers. It also marked China's emergence into the modern world.
July 15, 1979: In a primetime speech, President Carter warned that the U.S. was threatened by a lack of "moral and spiritual confidence." He said America's lack of confidence was to blame for an ongoing recession, and was a "fundamental threat to American democracy." The speech is often referred to Carter's "malaise" address, though he never actually used that word.
Quote of the Day
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company." -George Washington
More from West Wing Reports...
-
Fannie Flagg’s 6 favorite books that sparked her imaginationFeature The author recommends works by Johanna Spyri, John Steinbeck, and more
-
Google: A monopoly past its prime?Feature Google’s antitrust case ends with a slap on the wrist as courts struggle to keep up with the tech industry’s rapid changes
-
Patrick Hemingway: The Hemingway son who tended to his father’s legacyFeature He was comfortable in the shadow of his famous father, Ernest Hemingway
