The Long March

Li Xiannian was the Political Commissar of the Twenty-fifth Division of the Ninth Army. His division with Zhang's central column mounted a successful attack on the KMT model division where they destroyed or captured 10,000 KMT troops. In 1931 he was a regimental officer in the Fourth Front Army. In 1935 he was the commander of the Thirtieth Army.

Proclamation of the People's Republic of China

After the formation of the People's Republic of China he became its first President.

The Great Cultural Revolution

President Li Xiannian considered himself lucky in the Cultural Revolution. He was not "pulled down" although it was a close thing. He was "set aside," protected by both Zhou Enlai -- who often called him into conference just when he was supposed to go to a struggle session -- and by Mao himself. Li Xiannian participated with several generals, including Nie Rongzhen, Ye Jianying, and Chen Yi, in a meeting in February 1967 which was critical of the Cultural Revolution -- the "February Reverse Current," it was called. They were labeled "Little Lizards -- not Big Dragons."