Today in History - February 26 | President told 'under no circumstances' to drink from third glass
Taking advantage of a rise in tensions between the Soviet Union and China, US President Richard Nixon landed in Beijing on February 26, 1972.
The visit marked the end of a 25-year diplomatic freeze between China and the United States.
Since 1949, the US (and Australia) recognised the Republic of China, based in Taiwan, as the legitimate Chinese government.
But the visit to Beijing reversed all that.
Keen to make a good impression, Nixon and his wife Pat practised using chopsticks for months beforehand.
At a banquet, Nixon was served three glasses, orange juice, wine and Maotai, a very alcoholic Chinese drink.
Painfully aware that Nixon could be a surly drunk, Deputy Secretary of State Alexander Haig sent through a warning about Maotai.
"UNDER NO REPEAT NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY DRINK FORM HIS GLASS IN RESPONSE TO BANQUET TOASTS," Haig said.
Ignoring the message, Nixon sipped from the glass but didn't overdo it.
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