There were not many people there. The reception was very cool.
http://adst.org/2013/02/nixon-goes-to-china/
Nixon said “we can’t run the world without China” and I think he meant trading with China would strengthen American business.
It took time and several presidents ahead of him to cement the idea, but that was the plan.
The foreign policy of the United States has been bipartisan since World World II with the United Nations, international law and rules of engagement.
You mention Vietnam. The phony peace deal Nixon’s administration signed with North Vietnam was as worthless as the paper Neville Chamberlin came back from Munich with Hitler’s signature on it.
Blame the Democrats for withholding aid from South Vietnam which is what the GOP apologists say, but why sign a meaningless “peace agreement” with Communists in the first place.
South Vietnam and Communist North Vietnam were created at a negotiating table in 1955. The United States with Soviets, British and French held a summit at Geneva at the time another Republican was in office, Eisenhower.
Republican Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, who made great anti-Communist speeches, signed off on the creation of a Communist state in North Vietnam and all that ensured from it, like a war that the United States (Reps and Dems) never intended to win like World War II was won.