Nixon and the Cold War

1969-1974

What do we remember about the Cold War in the 50s and 60s?

• Truman?

• Eisenhower?

• Kennedy?

• Johnson?

1968 – Prague Spring

HENRY KISSINGER

• Secretary of State (’73-’77)

• “REALPOLITIK”

• Détente

Détente and Realpolitik • Nixon’s foreign policy

(developed by Kissinger)• Détente- Search for a more

constructive relationship with communist countries by relaxing Cold War tensions

• Realpolitik- Focus on powerful countries- China and Soviet Union, engage and recognize (containment didn’t recognize)

What about Nixon and Vietnam?• Kissinger – Pushing

idea of linkage• If USSR and China

would just stop supplying N. Vietnam then communists would have to negotiate

• Led to idea of recognizing and trying to negotiate with USSR and China in 1970s

Nixon and the USSR

Kitchen Debate

1959

Nixon and the USSR-Brezhnev (1972)

Leonid Brezhnev

Nixon and Brezhnev• Before trip- 1971 Berlin

Accord

– Free access to West Berlin by Western nations, improved communication between halves

– Americans Recognize East Berlin (formal relationship 1974)

Results of visit to USSR

• SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks) - May 1972

• SALT I Treaty- limited number of ICBMs (but not MIRVs) and limits on ABMs

• Nixon accepted concept of Mutually assured Destruction

Nixon and China ( Feb 1972)

Nixon and China• US had practice

policy of non-recognition with mainland China (since 1949)

• Nixon reverses that policy- “Ping Pong Diplomacy”

• Talks with Mao and Zhou Enlai

Nixon’s goals in China• Heal rift between US and

China

• Take advantage of China- Soviet Union rift (pressure on Vietnam?)

• Show that negotiating with the Communists could work without appearing soft

Effects of trip to China

• Symbolic value- negotiating can work

• Official agreements

– Neither would try to dominate the Pacific

– Cooperate in settling Pacific disputes

– Taiwan politically part of mainland China

• Carter officially started diplomatic relations with China in Dec 1978 Increased trade

Was Nixon giving mixed messages?

• WHAT ABOUT CHILE?

• What happened there???

• http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-09-10-nixon_N.htm

Ford’s Foreign Policy• Little experience, relies

on Kissinger• Helsinki Accords: 35

nations signed a series of agreements that promised greater cooperation between the nations of Eastern and Western Europe

Problems in SE Asia• 1975 Comm gov’t in Cambodia seized US

merchant ship Mayaguez in the Gulf of Siam

• Ford responded w/ massive show of military force; sent US Marines to rescue 39 crew members of the ship

• cost more lives (41) than saved/Ford reacted w/out consulting Congress, but most applauded action b/c showed country’s strength

Carter:Human Rights in Foreign Policy

• Cut off military aid to Argentina and Brazil (imprisoned/ tortured thousands of their own people)

• Est. Bureau of Human Rights in the State Department

• Inconsistent b/c supported dictators in S. Korea and Philippines

Panama • Johnson to Carter off/on negotiations

w/ Panamanians (they were upset at division of ownership of their land)

• 1977: 2 treaties – Panama controls Canal on Dec. 31, 1999

– Improves relationship w/ Latin America

Collapse of Détente o insist on human rights, led to demise in

relations w/ the USSRo SALT II signed June 1979: did NOT reduce

arms, did limit # of strategic weapons and nuclear-missile launchers ea. side produced

o SALT II: harsh opposition to Senate …US at a military disadvantage

o Dec 1979 SU invaded Afghanistano SALT II treaty died