Chiang Kai-shek

Chiang Kai-shek (1887-1975) was a Chinese military and political leader. He was an anti-Communist Chinese nationalist leader; commander of Kuomintang army (1926); president of Republic of China (1928-1931); and head of the executive branch (1935-1945). When Kuomintang fell after Communist advances, withdrew to Formosa (now Taiwan) and held title of president of the Republic of China.

Wisdom & Quotes

• We are working for a revolution. If we do not start it by improving the life of the soldiers, all slogans of reforming and improving society are but empty words.

- letter to Zhou En-Lai (1925)

• We shall not lightly talk about sacrifice until we are driven to the last extremity which makes sacrifice inevitable.

- speech to the Fifth Congress of the Kuomintang

• If when I die, I am still a dictator, I will certainly go down into the oblivion of all dictators. If, on the other hand, I succeed in establishing a truly stable foundation for a democratic government, I will live forever in every home in China.

Georgia O'Keeffe