In this paper, I discuss Deng Xiaoping, who ruled China from 1978 until 1990 and died in 1997. I discuss his early rise to power as a Communist follower of Mao Zedong, then I discuss how he had critical differences from Mao when he came to power. I then discuss how he implemented these differences by adopting Capitalist reforms to revive China economy, which suffered greatly because of Mao’s attempts to collectivize farms and plan China’s entire economy. I also indicate how Deng’s legacy is mixed, since he ruthlessly squelched opposition to many of the pro-democratic forces which became more vocal as a result of his own policies.