The Cultural Revolution, which began in 1966, did not go well for Deng. Ousted from the party by the Red Guards, Deng was sent to work at a tractor repair facility in Jiangxi Province.

Deng’s family suffered, most tragically his son, who was paralyzed after leaping from a window to escape Beijing University Red Guards. Despite his political isolation, Deng maintained hope of an eventual return to power.