President Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai shake
hands in Beijing.

In an amazing turn of events, President Richard Nixon took a
dramatic first step toward normalizing relations with the
communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) by traveling
to Beijing for a week of talks. Nixon’s historic visit began
the slow process of the re-establishing diplomatic relations
between the United States and communist China.

People line up in front of the application office for passports.

More than two years after the Berlin Wall was constructed by East Germany to prevent its citizens from fleeing its communist regime,
nearly 4,000 West Berliners were allowed to cross into East Berlin
to visit relatives. Under an agreement reached between East and
West Berlin, over 170,000 passes were eventually issued to West
Berlin citizens, each pass allowing a one-day visit to communist
East Berlin.

Citizens of West Berlin lining up for Christmas passes into
East Berlin.

President John Kennedy on an observation platform (left)
as he looks into East Berlin across the Communist Berlin
Wall that divided the German city. (AP Photo)

TIM MAGUIRE

It was on this day in 1945.

On this day in 2000.

The first section of the boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ, was opened
to the public on this day in 1870.

The boardwalk today.

Charlie Chaplin’s comedy "The Gold Rush" premiered
in Hollywood on this day in 1925.

Georgia Hale & Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush.