(1) 方励之, 我经历的1989-1990中美互动 (1). VOA Chinese, May 28, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110528-fanglizhi-memoir-part1-122783664.html
Note:
(a) The article mentions "美国驻北京大使馆代办薄瑞光 (Raymond Burghardt)," who is current chairman the Board of Trustees of American Institute in Taiwan--and AIT director (1999-2001). He was "Political Counselor" in Beijing (1987-1989).
His profile at East-West Center:
http://www.eastwestcenter.org/about-ewc/directory/?class_call=view&staff_ID=883
The article uses 代办, 参赞, which are Chinese terms for charge d'affaires and counselor (in addition: 商务专员 commercial attaché). The Japanese equialent are 公使代弁, 参事官.
(b) I do not know the position of Jeffrey A Bader at Department of State.
(c) 55 days at Peking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_Days_at_Peking
(a 1963 film)
(2) 方励之, 我经历的1989-1990中美互动 (2). VOA Chinese, June 3, 2011.
http://www.voanews.com/chinese/news/20110603-fanglizhi-china-us-part2-123127573.html
Note: The article says, "10月28日，是美国的万圣节，叫鬼节更准确，否则会混同巴黎万圣庙。大使馆将举行招待会。"
Halloween
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween
(section 1.1 Origin of name)
is always observed on Oct 31 (not a public holliday). The next day is All Saints' Day (a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries in Europe, but of no consequence in US).
In 1989, Oct 31 was Tuesday. Usually a party for Halloween is held the weekend before. That year, Oct 28 was Saturday.
Most likely, Prof Fang still confuses a Halloween party with the Halloween day, despite having stayed in US for 2 decades.