Chairman Mao Swims in the Yangtze (1966) – Unknown

This photo of the Chinese Mao Zedong is only one of his few famous shots. Then 72 year old, he was said to have fret over his legacy to show that he was healthy and full of vigor, he swam in the Yangtze River. It was also reported that he led 5,000 avid followers in Wuhan.

This act worked the way Zedong had planned, and the Cultural Revolution ensued, getting youngsters to fight for him. Toward its end, the fatality was over a million. This bloodshed was discussed in the 2003 documentary Morning Sun, which had won the John E. O’Connor Film Award in 2004.