Mao Zedong, 1962: «It is now ten o’clock. The meeting is in session»

In 1958 Chairman Mao launched the Great Leap Forward. By mobilizing the «masses» Mao wanted to take a shortcut to communism and overtake the U.S., the Soviet Union and everyone else. The leap ended three years later with millions and millions dead. At a Central Committee meeting in 1962, Mao admitted his shortcomings: «The situation in our country has not been very good for the past few years,