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Revision with unchanged content. Perhaps no other figure in contemporary Chinese history stirs as much controversy as the enigmatic Lin Biao. After an alleged attempt to assassinate Chairman Mao Zedong, Lin, along with his wife; Ye Qun, and son; Lin Liguo, died mysteriously in a plane crash during an attempt to supposedly flee to the Soviet Union in September, 1971. Controversy quickly surrounded the incident as Lin instantly transformed from Chairman Mao s second-in-command to the ultimate counter-revolutionary. Shrouded in so much mystery and controversy, performing a direct and completely objective analysis of Lin Biao is nearly impossible. This study aims not to focus directly on the events of September, 1971, but on Lin s behavior in private while being at the pinnacle of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the most tumoltuous years of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1969). Utilizing a variety of private memoirs from Lin s personal staff, this study will reveal the true Lin Biao, a man plaugued by personality deficiencies that inhibited his abilities as a politician and husband. When considering Lin s personality deficiencies, this study will probe and challange traditional political interpretations of Lin Biao and question the actual degree of political involvement he had during various events during the Cultural Revolution.

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History and Politics of Contemporary China. Adrian received his BA in Political Science from Arizona State University and his MA in History from the University of Maryland College Park. He has studied abroad in Beijing and currently resides in Maryland.

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