Letter
Two page handwritten note from Katherine Gribbs describing the evening that Chinese Ping Pong players and members of the U.N.'s Chinese delegation came to the Manoogian Mansion for dinner and the backstory on "Ping Pong Diplomacy," written on Katherine Gribbs' stationery. The note reads:
March 6, 1974
Detroit was the first city in the United States that the Chinese Ping Pong players visited in April, 1972.
As a result of president Nixon's visit to Red China a new U.S.-China policy was beginning to take shape.
The ping pong players were the first Chinese from the People's Republic of China to visit the U.S. in more than thirty years.
We served a dinner of Ethnic foods to 74 people in the dining room of the Manoogian Mansion including our children, the Deputy Mayor and Mrs. Walter Greene, the Chinese players and American players, 6 members of the Chinese delegation from the U.N. and Ambassador John Scali representing President Nixon.
We exchanged gifts and short welcoming speeches. I told them that the food represented what we were, Americans first, Ethnics second. I also said that my husband and I were first generation Americans whose parents were peasants coming to America to seek freedom and opportunity.
We also served Cold Duck, a Detroit invention, Vernor's Ginger Ale, also originating here, and orange juice.
After dinner there was an informal party and exchange of conversation.
We decided not to have any Press attend as we wanted a relaxed atmosphere.
Several months later Mrs. Vee Richards, one of the American translators who lives in Ann Arbor, told me that of the 3 weeks the Chinese spent in North America, the evening at the Mansion was the most relaxing and enjoyable evening they had had.
