Deng Xiaoping - Biography.

Deng Xiaoping - Biography. Chinese Communist leader Birth August 22, 1904 Death February 19, 1997 Place of Sichuan, China Birth Political Communist Party Known for Approving the 1989 crackdown against prodemocracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square, which resulted in hundreds of deaths Countering Mao's legacy of idealism with pragmatic policies; liberalizing the Chinese economy and society in incremental fashion; encouraging some capitalist activities; and overseeing a period of rapid economic growth Milestones 1920-1925 Studied Marxist ideology, and became involved in the French branch of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) 1927 Secretly worked in the Shanghai office of the CCP, which operated underground due to the split with the Kuomintang (Nationalist party) 1929 Helped organize a Communist military base and guerilla movement among the peasants in Guanxi 1934-1935 Participated in the Long March, and became a key ally of Mao Zedong 1945 Was elected to the Central Committee of the CCP 1966 Was removed from the CCP after his pragmatic approach became an obstacle to Mao's Cultural Revolution 1973-1976 Acted as vice premier of China until his removal in 1976 following the death of CCP leader and key political ally Zhou Enlai 1977 Gained control of China after the death of Mao and the arrest of members of the Gang of Four June, 1989 Approved a violent crackdown on protestors in Tiananmen Square November, 1989 Resigned from his official posts, but remained the leader of China until his death Quote 'It doesn't matter whether it's a black cat or a white cat; as long as it can catch mice, it's a good cat.' First said in a meeting of the CCP in 1962. Did You After being removed from the CCP in 1966, Red Guards forced Deng to run through the streets of Beijing wearing a dunce cap. Know After 1989, the only office Deng held was that of honorary chairman of the Chinese Bridge Association. Born Deng Xixian, he assumed the name Xiaoping as an alias while a member of the underground Communist movement in Shanghai. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.