President John F. Kennedy meets with Anna Chennault (Chen Xiangmei), 1962
Washington, D.C.
White House Photograph by Abbie Rowe
Courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, AR7277-A
Anna Chennault, born as Chen Xiangmei in Beijing, was the widow of General Claire Lee Chennault, leader of both U.S. and Chinese aviation forces during World War II. In 1962, Mrs. Chennault visited Washington, D.C., as the new president of Chinese Refugee Relief to speak with President John F. Kennedy about the plight of refugees during the Great Leap Forward (Da Yue Jin).