Sidney Rittenberg
to be assigned to study Japanese, and was able to be as-
signed to learn Chinese instead. This led to his being sent
to China in 1944. Rittenberg said that one of the turning
points in his life came shortly after he arrived in China.
He was sent to bring a $26 check to the family of a girl
who was killed by a drunken US soldier. Despite the fam-
ily's devastation, they gave Rittenberg $6 for his help. It
was at that point that “something inside Sidney Ritten-
berg shifted.”* [3] After the end of the war, he decided
to stay in China as part of the United Nations famine re-
lief program. This led to his meeting the leaders of the
Communist movement at Yan'an in 1946.
Sidney Rittenberg, 2012
2 Yan'an
Sidney Rittenberg (Chinese: 李 敦 白; pinyin: Lǐ
At Yan'an, Rittenberg observed the comradeship of CCP
Dūnbái; born August 14, 1921) is an American journal-
leaders, but ran afoul of the small city's strict moral reg-
ist, scholar, and Chinese linguist who lived in China from
imen. Rittenberg's memoirs relay his impressions as a
1944 to 1979. He worked closely with People's Repub-
young man seeking the acceptance not accorded to him as
lic of China (PRC) founder Mao Zedong, military leader
a leftist labor organizer in South Carolina. Although iso-
Zhu De, statesman Zhou Enlai, and other leaders of the
lated in the loess caves of the arid northwest, Yan'an was
Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the war, and was
the site of intense introspection by urban intellectuals like
with these central Communist leaders at Yan'an. He wit-
Rittenberg, whose first sustained contact with Chinese
nessed first-hand much of what occurred at upper lev-
communism occurred in Yan'an's uniquely isolated set-
els of the CCP and knew many of its leaders personally.
ting. Yan'an was also the site of an ongoing Yan'an Recti-
Later, he was imprisoned in solitary confinement, twice,
fication Movement launched by Mao Zedong in the previ-
for a total of 16 years.* [1] He was the first American cit-
ous year. Artists—cartoonists and novelists in particular
izen to join the CCP.* [2]
—were falling under the influence of Mao, whose nascent
Rittenberg's connections and experience have enabled personality cult Rittenberg soon began to observe. More
him to run a successful consultancy business represent- immediately than Chairman Mao, however, a young fe-
ing some of the world’s biggest brands, such as Intel, male cadre soon lured Rittenberg into a romantic liai-
Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Hughes Aircraft and Teledesic. son which was immediately exposed and nearly resulted
in his expulsion from Yan'an. With the slow but inex-
orable march toward civil war in 1946, Rittenberg would
be drawn out, and into the next phase of his involvement
1 Early life with the Chinese Communist Party.
Rittenberg was born into a Jewish family in Charleston,
South Carolina, and lived there until his college stud-
ies. After attending Porter Military Academy, he turned 3 Interpreting for Mao
down a full scholarship to Princeton University and in-
stead attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Twice, Rittenberg interpreted a message for the United
Hill, where he majored in philosophy. While attending States from Mao Zedong. The message was the same
Chapel Hill, he became a member of the Dialectic Soci- both times. Mao said that after the war was over in
ety and the US Communist Party. In 1942, following the China, and after Mao became the leader of the coun-
entry of the US into World War II—and after his leaving try, he wanted to still have a good relationship with the
the Communist Party—Rittenberg joined the Army and United States. This was for two reasons. First, because
was sent to Stanford's Army Far Eastern Language and the United States was the only one that could supply him
Area School to learn Japanese. Rittenberg did not wish with the money he needed to rebuild the country. Second,
1
2 7 PRESENT DAY
because Mao didn't want to depend on the Soviets. Both 6 Second imprisonment
times this message was delivered, it was rejected by Pres-
ident Truman. Sidney believes that had Truman decided After several people were labelled as “516 elements”
to talk to Mao, both the Korean War and the Vietnam (五一六分子) in September 1967, foreigners also be-
War could possibly have been averted. came targets of that campaign and were labelled “516
The Communist Party leadership sought Rittenberg's as- elements”and foreign spies. A poster with the title“How
sistance in translating their messages into English, includ- an American seized red power at Radio China Interna-
ing the writings of Mao. Rittenberg also worked for the tional”was put up at the radio station, and Rittenberg was
Xinhua News Agency and Radio Peking.* [2] also criticised in a poster at the Friendship Hotel, where
many foreigners were living.
In February 1968, several members of the “Dr. Nor-
man Bethune - Yan'an rebel group”were arrested, among
4 First imprisonment them Israel Epstein and his wife Elsie Fairfax-Cholmeley,
Michael Shapiro and Rittenberg. This time, the reason
In 1949, Rittenberg was thrown into solitary confinement for his arrest was supposed actions and criticisms against
for supposedly being a member of a spy network in con- the dictatorship and bureaucracy. Ironically, he was also
nection with an international spy network “uncovered” charged with maintaining connections with the“Chinese
in the Soviet Union. For one year, he was kept in a Nikita Khrushchev" Liu Shaoqi, whom Rittenberg had
completely dark room, and was kept for five years after strongly criticised in the previous campaigns. His wife,
that before he was finally released. Rittenberg attributes Wang Yulin (Chinese: 王玉琳) was sent to a“May Sev-
his survival in solitary confinement to a poem by Edwin enth Cadre School”. During his stay he penned a new
Markham:* [4] Confucian saying: “Man who climbs out on limb should
listen carefully for sound of saw.”According to him, he
couldn’t hear the saw until it was too late.
They drew a circle that shut me out
On International Women's Day, March 8, 1973, there was
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout a reception for foreign experts in the Great Hall of the
But love and I had the wit to win; People, most of whom had been released by that time.
Zhou Enlai spoke and apologised to the foreigners, but
We drew a circle that took them in. also said: “There are also some foreigners who during
the Cultural Revolution participated in a certain organ-
isation, who participated in destructive activities of bad
Rittenberg recalled hearing this poem from his sister elements. Sidney Rittenberg is one of those people; he
when he was sick as a child, and, upon his imprisonment, was involved in the counterrevolutionary clique of Wang
it came back to him, and he used it to build relationships Li, Guan Feng and Qi Benyu.”
with the prison guards and managed to convince them to
provide him with books and a candle to read. In November 1977, Rittenberg was released and rehabili-
tated —probably as the last of all the foreigners. In March
In 1955, he was released, which he claims he owes to 1980, he moved back to the United States.
Joseph Stalin's death.
7 Present day
5 Cultural Revolution
Rittenberg is a faculty member in the Chinese Studies
During the Cultural Revolution, Rittenberg was radi- Program at Pacific Lutheran University. He is married
calised and in the summer of 1967 headed the “Dr. to Yulin, and has four children. In 1993, he wrote a book
Norman Bethune - Yan'an rebel group”,* [5] which had about his experiences in China entitled The Man Who
about seventy members. He led political struggles at Stayed Behind, with the aid of Amanda Bennett.
China Radio International. Han Suyin at that time said
that Rittenberg was in complete control of the radio sta- Rittenberg and his wife operate Rittenberg & Associates,
tion. On April 8, 1967, the People's Daily published a a consulting firm that provides assistance to businesses
long article written by him.* [6] On April 10, he repre- who work with Chinese companies. Some of their best-
sented a faction of foreigners in struggle session against known clients included Billy Graham and Mike Wallace.
Wang Guangmei at Tsinghua University. He also at- Rittenberg frequently speaks about his experiences in
tacked other foreigners who were living in Beijing at that China, and is currently living on Fox Island, Washington.
time, including Dr. Ma Haide (George Hatem). Ma In an interview in 2008, he criticized the neoconservative
Haide had advised Rittenberg not to interfere in Chinese and the Bush administration's view of China as a threat.
political affairs. In 2012, Irv Drasnin, Lucy Ostrander, and Don Sell-
3
ers produced a documentary about Rittenberg called The 11 External links
Revolutionary. Rittenberg and the producers spoke about
his experiences and the film at the USC U.S.-China Insti- • Video interview with Sidney Rittenberg
tute in June 2012.* [7]
• Website for feature documentary on Sidney Ritten-
berg's life in China
8 See also • Interview from 2015
• Anna Louise Strong
• Jean Pasqualini
• Edgar Snow
• Sidney Shapiro
9 Sources
[1] Michael Bristow, 'Sidney Rittenberg: Chairman Mao's
Favourite American', BBC, 30 June 2011.
[2] MARK MCDONALD (2012-07-10). “The Man Who
Stayed Behind in China Comes Into Focus”. New York
Times. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
[3] U-Turn: What If You Woke Up One Morning and Real-
ized You Were Living the Wrong Life, by Bruce Grierson
[4] Geeks & geezers: how era, values, and defining moments
shape leaders, by Warren G. Bennis, Robert J. Thomas
[5] Chinese: 白求恩－延安造反团
[6] Chinese: 中国文化大革命打开了通向共产主义的航
道
[7] Q and A Following the Screening of the Revolutionary
10 General sources
• Bringing Chinese History to life: Professor Sid-
ney Rittenberg honored for commitment to building
peace
• Rittinberg @Asia Society
• “China's Cultural Revolution, A Turning Point in
History”
• Sidney Rittenberg (1993). The Man Who Stayed Be-
hind. New York: Simon & Schuster.
• Sidney Rittenberg; Amanda Bennett (2001). The
man who stayed behind. Duke University Press.
ISBN 978-0-8223-2667-0.
4 12 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES
12 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
12.1 Text
• Sidney Rittenberg Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_Rittenberg?oldid=730536858 Contributors: Ineuw, Rl, Fuzheado,
David.Monniaux, JB82, Babelfisch, CALR, Bender235, Kwamikagami, Jonathunder, A2Kafir, Alai, CWH, Sholtar, Dpr, Koavf, Ground
Zero, RussBot, Daveswagon, Emersoni, Black Falcon, Drable, Shyam, Liujiang, SmackBot, Jcbarr, Kintetsubuffalo, Hmains, Dahn,
Nakon, BullRangifer, DelDav, Chazchaz101, Takamaxa, JethroElfman, Phatom87, Cydebot, After Midnight, Mathpianist93, Mibelz,
Mrmrbeaniepiece, RobotG, Montie5, Waacstats, Sf67, JoDonHo, Pastillage0587, Paulmanfredi, Aboutmovies, Alexb102072, Wasser-
mann~enwiki, Liushaoqi, Niceguyedc, Jeremiestrother, Sq178pv, Addbot, TarHippo, Legobot, Naurmacil, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Green
Cardamom, MLKLewis, 天 下 文 章 一 大 抄, T-online09, Cossaxx, Full-date unlinking bot, RjwilmsiBot, Homunculus, Aronlee90,
Wieralee, Helpful Pixie Bot, Documentarydon, BattyBot, Cyberbot II, Harrumpf, VIAFbot, Socal2012, Monkbot, KasparBot, GreenC
bot and Anonymous: 25
12.2 Images
• File:Sidney_Rittenberg_20121004_2.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/Sidney_Rittenberg_
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artist: 美国之音宋德成
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