Papa was reminded of this question upon seeing the name of the new mayor of Tapei, Taiwan. Memories from the 1950’s returned to me. China going communist in 1949 was a jolt to the US. Sun Yat-Sen’s dream of democracy in China had been short lived. Like most countries, the minds of the people had not yet provided enough fertile ground for freedom. The US had supprted Chiang Kai Shek as leader of China for many years. There was probably an unrealistic element of assuming he led a stable government as China fought against Japan’s invasion in World War Two. China in the eyes of FDR was a member of the Big Four. After Pearl Harbor the Ameican led “Fighting Tigers” became operational in China. Our countries seemed close. (Watch “Forty Seconds Over Tokyo” to understand why I feel good towards those who save Ted Lawson.) The Nationalists and Communists in China seemingly cooperated in the struggle against Japan. Russia of course had long term connections to the Communists and after the second World War re-cemented relations; including in Manchuria and helping the revolt. Poof! China was lost and Chiang Kai Shek’s government fled to Taiwan.

I think it’s fair to assume that many in the US were shocked when the Nationalist government didn’t prevail in the civil war with the communists. It does appear that folks in the goverment had misread the situation. It wasn’t a far leap to wonder if someone could have done something to save China. Stalin gained influence with his communist compatriots of course and that added an additional question of whether anyone in the US had perhaps turned a blind eye to the situation; or heaven forbid, sympathized with the communist advance. Much of this became tied up in the Red Scare atmosphere in the US at the time. The Soviets were expanding at an alarming clip.

Now it seems popular to poo poo the 1950’s mentality about the dangers of communisim. However, the harsh dictatorship behind the Iron Curtain, the Soviet sponsored spread of revolution in various countries and the theft of nuclear technology were quite real. And, there were indeed some communists in America. Probably a lot fewer than believed if past “card carrying membership” was a major qualifying criteria. Papa once wrote that many in the generation of young adults in the 1920’s/30’s never met an “ism” they didn’t like or embrace. People still are making similar mistakes today. Marxism/communism/mysticism/totalitarnism/and even Eugenicsism maintain holds on some folks. (Side note: It was after all the crazy 60’s but Eugenics almost got Papa and his head shape.)

Most who dallied with communism in the years leading up to World War Two had probably moved on in the 1940’s/1950’s but they did leave a trail. Enter politicians looking for answers. Who lost China was one such question. So, in my youth a ton of energy was spent searching for communist spies. Again, there were some. But, the political side of the search became overbearing. There were more than one but my home state out did them all with Senator Joe McCarthy. I was young but I do recall “Joe must go!” signs around town. It was a big topic. As were the McCarthy/Army hearings on TV. Eventually, the internal hunt died down and US policy became one of “containment” of the communist threat.

(Another side note: After McCarthy’s death a special election was held. For years my brothers and I parked cars on a vacant lot across from the Wisconsin State Fair. Auto races and the fair itself drew big crowds. We made good money at 25-50 cents a car. And, up the block, if Grand Dad didn’t have a wake/funeral, we could also park cars on his paved lot. It was a slow funeral day when then candidate Bill Proxmire came to the funeral home to park. 75 cents was the going rate for a paved spot. However, he wanted to park a station wagon with a huge campaign sign at the corner; on the front lawn of the funeral home. Directly across the street from the fair’s main gate! Lots of traffic at that corner. We boys looked at each other and concluded there was no reason to ask permission fom Grand Dad. It was just a lawn. $5.00 was offered and pocketed for that prime location. For the rest of his senatorial career Proxmire seldom spent too much more on his campaigns. I think I met him another 10 times; he’d just show up at places around the state and shake hands. At the entrance of the Flower Show was a lead pipe cinch if one wanted to meet him.)

As for China, the current communists continue with the ism’s usual brutality and iron fist rule. They threaten and spy and conjole and are a looming threat to the US. But, first China may have its eye on Taiwan. The small island nation, free since 1949 may become a sitting duck. In 1979 the US withdrew from a defense treaty. Free China was abandoned in Papa’s view as another result of lost focus from the 1960’s and 1970’s of our own interests and security. Too often the US gets off and back on a wobbly coaster that veers away from a common sense concept of strength stopping aggression at the wrong times. These are my thoughts as the Generalissomo’s great-grandson becomes mayor of Taipei.