People Designated as Mao Zedong's Successor

Supporting Mao during the Yan'an Rectification Campaign

Mao believed he was China's "Number One Capitalist Roader" and a "Chinese Khrushchev" who would criticize Mao after his death

1949

1966

His extreme praise for Mao during his tenure as Minister of National Defense

Died in a mysterious plane crash while supposedly attempting to escape to the Soviet Union

1966

1971

He was ranked number two in the party leadership because of the above's death

His worsening health as a result of bladder cancer

1971

1973

Mao was impressed by his revolutionary background

Accused of being a member of a "gang of four" consisting of party radicals as well as demonstrating his incompetence in handling government affairs

1973

1974

The lack of skilled, healthy party elders and the above's incompetence

Accused of being the main instigator of the 1976 Tiananmen Square protests

1974

1976

Because he was not part of the radical or pragmatic factions in the party

Supporting the "Two Whatevers" after Mao's death in 1976, for being a beneficiary of the Cultural Revolution, and for his lack of support from party elders

1976

1978