Which actor did Richard Nixon ask to be his bodyguard?

A person in need of a bodyguard could do worse than hiring actor and martial artist Li Lianjie, who is better known by his stage name, Jet Li.

The actor and film producer is well known to audiences for his work in films. Critics and fans alike have praised his acting talent. However, for many, Li’s greatest talent is deemed to be his outstanding work in the field of martial arts.

Li was born in Beijing, China in 1963. By the time he was eight, his peers and teachers noticed that the young boy showed a strong natural talent for Wushu, a complicated martial art form. His father had passed away when he was two, but coaches, who had also taken note of Li’s skill, stepped in to help the family. As a result, Li was able to continue his study of Wushu, gradually competing against adults until, in 1975, he was named the national all-around champion. The young prodigy began to travel around the world, performing feats of strength and balance for dignitaries, politicians, and celebrities.

President Richard Nixon first met the film star when the boy was part of a visiting martial arts delegation from China in 1974. At the time, Li was only 11 years old, but his skills were evident, leading Nixon to (possibly in jest) ask the young martial artist if he would like to be his bodyguard.

Young Li turned the president down, however, saying he wanted to protect his Chinese countrymen, not “any one individual.”