Dr. Khin Lay Gyi and Dr. Khin Lay Ngal greeting the Nixon couple at Rangoon Airport
Photo credit: Aye Yamone May
November 1953
Richard Nixon's Visit to Myanmar in 1953
room Myanmar
people U Thant Richard Nixon Daw Khin Kyi Pat Nixon Irene Ba U
Vice-President of the United States Richard Nixon visited Myanmar in 1953. Nixon happened to visit on Thanksgiving Day and his Burmese hosts managed to rustle up a turkey for lunch.
The US newspapers at the time reported on his confrontation with left-wing and anti-American demonstrators at Pegu. A very witty Burmese communist held a sign that reads:
“Pax Vobiscum [Peace be With You]
Scant regard for homo sapiens of the East
begets doubts about your move for peace.
Rest assured, however, of one important fact
that we shan't fight like Kilkenny cats
to ensure for ravenous wolves of Wall Street
an easy lie and wealthy retreat.”
Fewer reported on Nixon's trip to the Shwedagon pagoda. Nixon and his wife wrote in the register: "For years we have heard of it, and we have previously seen pictures of it - but actually seeing the Shwedagon exceeded even our greatest expectation. The people of Burma have provided for all the world to see one of the greatest cultural monuments ever erected by man."
The first photograph shows Vice President and Mrs. "Pat" Nixon with their two guides, U Thant (then Secretary to the Prime Minister) and Daw Khin Kyi (mother of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi). The second image shows Nixon studying the Pax Vobiscum sign at Pegu, where he drew left-wing and anti-American demonstrators.