July 15

This Day in History

Also on This Day

Lead Story
Nixon announces visit to communist China, 1971
American Revolution
Lafayette selected colonel-general of the National Guard of Paris, 1789
Automotive
Ford Motor Company takes its first order, 1903
Civil War
CSS Arkansas attacks Union ships, 1862
Cold War
Nixon announces trip to China, 1971
Crime
A notorious English killer is executed, 1953
John Walker Lindh accepts plea bargain, 2002
Disaster
Volcano buries victims in fiery mud, 1888
General Interest
Rembrandt born, 1606
Pike expedition sets out, 1806
Mariner 4 studies Martian surface, 1965
Versace murdered in Cunanan killing spree, 1997
Hollywood
Die Hard debuts, makes Bruce Willis a movie star, 1988
Literary
Iris Murdoch is born, 1919
Music
Columbia Records drops country legend Johnny Cash after 26 years, 1986
Old West
The Mad Trapper of Rat River heads for U.S., 1904
Presidential
Jimmy Carter speaks about a national "crisis in confidence", 1979
Sports
Tex Schramm dies, 2003
Vietnam War
Goldwater nominated for president, 1964
Nixon announces a visit to China, 1971
World War I
Second Battle of the Marne begins with final German offensive, 1918
World War II
Garbo makes an appearance, 1941

Vietnam War

Jul 15, 1971:

Nixon announces a visit to China

Previous Day July 15 Calendar Next Day

In a surprise announcement, President Richard Nixon says that he will visit Beijing, China, before May 1972. The news, issued simultaneously in Beijing and the United States, stunned the world. Nixon reported that he was visiting in order "to seek normalization of relations between the two countries and to exchange views on questions of concern to both sides." Privately, Nixon hoped that achieving a rapprochement with China, North Vietnam's major benefactor, would convince Hanoi to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the Vietnam War. The announcement was preceded by an April 6 invitation for the U.S. Table Tennis team to visit China, and by Nixon's end to the 20-year U.S. trade embargo against China. On July 22, the North Vietnamese announced that they viewed Nixon's visit to China as a divisive attempt by the United States to drive a wedge between Hanoi and Beijing.

Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!

Previous Day July 15 Calendar Next Day

This Week in History, Jul 15 - Jul 21

Jul 15, 1964
Goldwater nominated for president
Jul 15, 1971
Nixon announces a visit to China
Jul 16, 1965
McNamara visits South Vietnam
Jul 16, 1973
Senate begins investigations into secret bombing of Cambodia
Jul 17, 1969
Wheeler visits South Vietnam
Jul 17, 1972
South Vietnamese paratroopers fight for Citadel
Jul 18, 1955
Soviet Union agrees to grant Hanoi economic aid
Jul 18, 1968
Johnson meets Thieu in Honolulu
Jul 19, 1964
President Khanh calls for expanding the war
Jul 19, 1972
Peace talks resume
Jul 20, 1964
Viet Cong troops overrun town
Jul 20, 1969
Duck Hook plan completed
Jul 21, 1965
Johnson considers the options

Related Topics

What Happened on Your Birthday?

Pick a Date

Editor’s Picks

Bio.com

  • On This Day

    On This Day

    Read about notable birthdays and celebrity deaths at On This Day.

Shop HISTORY

See More