While all remained fairly quiet on the international front in Asia during 1976, it was a year of internal convulsions for many of the region's governments. Of the great powers, only the Soviet Union remained unshaken. The U.S. suffered one of its quadrennial "lame duck" run-ups to a Presidential election (with Henry Kissinger almost entirely preoccupied with diplomacy in the Middle East and Africa). China suffered the deaths of its two highest leaders, Premier Chou^En-lai on January 8, and Chairman Mao Tse-tung on September 9. Mao's demise was followed almost immediately by an amazing power struggle, which led to the swift downfall of his widow and three other members of the Politburo.