Richard Milhous Richard Milhous NixonNixon

3737thth President PresidentRepublicanRepublican1969-19741969-1974

Silent Majority Silent Majority Southern StrategySouthern Strategy In In American politics, the , the Southern Southern

strategystrategy refers to the refers to the Republican Party strategy of strategy of gaining political support or winning gaining political support or winning elections in the elections in the Southern section of of the country by appealing to the country by appealing to racism against African Americans..[1]

[2][3][4][5]

Though the "Though the "Solid South" had been " had been a longtime a longtime Democratic Party stronghold due to the Democratic stronghold due to the Democratic Party's defense of slavery prior to Party's defense of slavery prior to the American Civil War and the American Civil War and segregation for a century segregation for a century thereafter, many white Southern thereafter, many white Southern Democrats stopped supporting the Democrats stopped supporting the party following the civil rights plank party following the civil rights plank of the Democratic campaign in of the Democratic campaign in 1948 (triggering the Dixiecrats), 1948 (triggering the Dixiecrats), the African-American Civil Rights the African-American Civil Rights Movement, the passage of the Civil Movement, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, and Rights Act of 1965, and desegregation.desegregation.

George WallaceGeorge Wallace

Segregation NowSegregation Now

Segregation Segregation TomorrowTomorrow

Segregation Forever!Segregation Forever!

ResultsResults

VietnamizationVietnamization

Bomb Laos Bomb Laos and and

CambodiaCambodia

Kent StateKent State

Christmas BombingsChristmas Bombings

End ResultEnd Result

Foreign Policy Issues-DetenteForeign Policy Issues-Detente

DetenteDetente

A policy of the Nixon administration to develop more cordial relations with the Soviet Union. RapprochementRapprochement (to bring together) Aimed in part in enlisting Soviet support to assist

US in getting North Vietnam back to peace table & serious negotiations

So that US could get out of Vietnam “with honor.” Détente’ lasted until 1979

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in late 1979 (Carter) brought US-Soviet Détente’ to an abrupt end.

The Enemy of the enemy is my The Enemy of the enemy is my friendfriend

President Nixon President Nixon Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger

China China Soviet UnionSoviet Union

Ping Pong DiplomacyPing Pong Diplomacy

East Meets WestEast Meets WestChairman Mao and President Chairman Mao and President NixonNixon

Zhou Enlai and President Zhou Enlai and President NixonNixon

Détente & Sino Soviet SplitDétente & Sino Soviet Split In 1971 Nixon visited China – the world’s most populous In 1971 Nixon visited China – the world’s most populous

nation.nation. This was deliberately intended to provoke a response from This was deliberately intended to provoke a response from

the USSR. Why?the USSR. Why? In the early 1960s the world’s two greatest communist In the early 1960s the world’s two greatest communist

countries quarrelled with each other.countries quarrelled with each other. The Chinese resented the refusal of the Russians to help The Chinese resented the refusal of the Russians to help

them develop their nuclear weapons technology.them develop their nuclear weapons technology. The Russians believed that the Chinese might provoke war The Russians believed that the Chinese might provoke war

with the US and so couldn’t be trusted.with the US and so couldn’t be trusted. Nixon decided to exploit this tension between the two by Nixon decided to exploit this tension between the two by

playing one off against the other to put pressure on the playing one off against the other to put pressure on the USSR to sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talk - SALT.USSR to sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talk - SALT.

His visit to China worried the Soviet Union that China and His visit to China worried the Soviet Union that China and the US might ‘gang up’ against them.the US might ‘gang up’ against them.

SALT I = Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, signed in 1972. SALT I = Strategic Arms Limitation Talks, signed in 1972.

Why was reduction of arms Why was reduction of arms sought?sought?

Nixon had promised to get the USA Nixon had promised to get the USA out of Vietnam. He thought that by out of Vietnam. He thought that by agreeing to arms control, he could agreeing to arms control, he could persuade the Soviets to stop persuade the Soviets to stop supporting North Vietnam.supporting North Vietnam.

In 1971 Brezhnev announced a In 1971 Brezhnev announced a ‘Programme for Peace’ to improve ‘Programme for Peace’ to improve relations between the superpowers.relations between the superpowers.

Nixon tried to improve USNixon tried to improve US––Chinese Chinese relations. In 1972, the US government relations. In 1972, the US government finally agreed to let China join the UN. finally agreed to let China join the UN. This worried the Soviets, who thought This worried the Soviets, who thought the two countries might gang up on the the two countries might gang up on the USSR, so Brezhnev invited Nixon to USSR, so Brezhnev invited Nixon to Moscow to sign SALT I.Moscow to sign SALT I.

After the Cuban Missile Crisis, arms limitation talks After the Cuban Missile Crisis, arms limitation talks were occurring. What does this graph tell you about were occurring. What does this graph tell you about

their effectiveness?their effectiveness?

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

USA

USSR

Proliferation and deterrenceProliferation and deterrence

In the 1960s there were two major worries. The first was that In the 1960s there were two major worries. The first was that nuclear weapons would nuclear weapons would proliferateproliferate –– more countries would acquire more countries would acquire nuclear capability. The second was maintaining the nuclear capability. The second was maintaining the deterrentdeterrent balance between the two superpowers.balance between the two superpowers.

On the proliferation front, the Chinese and French were a source of On the proliferation front, the Chinese and French were a source of anxiety due to their nuclear testing. The USSR reinforced its armies anxiety due to their nuclear testing. The USSR reinforced its armies along the Sinoalong the Sino––Soviet (ChineseSoviet (Chinese––Russian) frontier, and in the Russian) frontier, and in the Pacific, a New Zealand warship patrolled in an effort to deter the Pacific, a New Zealand warship patrolled in an effort to deter the French from exploding nuclear weapons.French from exploding nuclear weapons.

In 1964, the Soviets announced the development of an anti-ballistic In 1964, the Soviets announced the development of an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) which they claimed would destroy US missiles in mid-missile (ABM) which they claimed would destroy US missiles in mid-air. In response, Poseidon MIRV missiles were installed in US air. In response, Poseidon MIRV missiles were installed in US nuclear submarines.nuclear submarines.

Illustration from ‘The Cold War’ by Lawrence Freedman

What was SALT I?What was SALT I? SALT I was the first real step to restricting weapons. It ‘froze’ the SALT I was the first real step to restricting weapons. It ‘froze’ the

numbers of large rockets (ICBMs), both on land and in submarines, numbers of large rockets (ICBMs), both on land and in submarines, for five years. Bombers were not covered.for five years. Bombers were not covered.

However, throughout the talks Nixon would not discuss MIRV as he However, throughout the talks Nixon would not discuss MIRV as he was determined to stay ahead in the Arms Race.was determined to stay ahead in the Arms Race.

““The SALT I agreement froze ICBM deployment but not MIRV, The SALT I agreement froze ICBM deployment but not MIRV, which was about as meaningful as freezing the [European] cavalry which was about as meaningful as freezing the [European] cavalry … in 1938 but not the tanks.… in 1938 but not the tanks.

““Throughout the Nixon administration the Pentagon added three Throughout the Nixon administration the Pentagon added three new warheads a day … a strange way to control the arms race.” new warheads a day … a strange way to control the arms race.” Stephen Ambrose, 1985.Stephen Ambrose, 1985.

How effective would you say SALT was How effective would you say SALT was and why?and why?

Additional benefits of this period of Additional benefits of this period of détentedétente

The USSR and USA also signed the ABM Treaty. In this they The USSR and USA also signed the ABM Treaty. In this they promised not to set up more than one site each for anti-ballistic promised not to set up more than one site each for anti-ballistic missile defence.missile defence.

The two sides also signed a trade agreement allowing the USA to The two sides also signed a trade agreement allowing the USA to export grain to the USSR. Space cooperation was agreed upon, as export grain to the USSR. Space cooperation was agreed upon, as well as an encouragement of artistic and sporting links.well as an encouragement of artistic and sporting links.

The Soviets finally recognised West Germany as a country and The Soviets finally recognised West Germany as a country and allowed West Berliners to visit relatives in East Berlin.allowed West Berliners to visit relatives in East Berlin.

In 1975, 35 countries signed the Helsinki Agreement. It recognised In 1975, 35 countries signed the Helsinki Agreement. It recognised Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe. All countries agreed to notify Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe. All countries agreed to notify the others of military exercises and allow them to send observers. the others of military exercises and allow them to send observers. They also agreed to respect human rights and fundamental They also agreed to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.freedoms.

Weapons increases after SALT IWeapons increases after SALT I

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

1972

1974

1976

1978

1980

USSR W arheads

US W arheads

USSR M issiles

US M issiles

What does this graph tell you about the success of SALT I? Explain your answer.

Nixon knew that détentewas a vote-winner

Why were both superpowersready for détente?

Nixon visited China 1971

SALT started 1969

Nixon invited toMoscow 1972

SALT I Treaty 1972

US withdrew fromSouth Vietnam 1973

Brezhnev visitedUSA 1973

Detente1969-75

Helsinki Agreement1975

The USSR could not affordits huge military expenditure(20% of GNP)

Why did this period of détenteWhy did this period of détentegive way to the ‘new’ Cold War?give way to the ‘new’ Cold War?

The USSR soon made it obvious that they had no intention of allowing any human rights by arresting dissidents (opponents of communism in USSR)

In 1976 the Cubans (with Soviet backing) sent 40,000 troops to help communists in Angola’s civil war.

The biggest setback was caused by the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

Nixon knew that détentewas a vote-winner

Why were both superpowersready for détente?

SALT started 1969

Nixon visited China 1971

Nixon invited toMoscow 1972

SALT I Treaty 1972

US withdrew fromSouth Vietnam 1973

Brezhnev visitedUSA 1973

Detente1969-75

Helsinki Agreement1975

The USSR could not affordits huge military expenditure(20% of GNP)

Why did this periodof détente

come to an end?

Soviet arrestsof leadingdissidents

Cuban troopssent to Angola1976 Soviet invasion

ofAfghanistan 1979

Nixon’s Domestic PolicyNixon’s Domestic Policy New Federalism – revenue sharing, more New Federalism – revenue sharing, more

power to state and local government.power to state and local government. Clean Air Act 1971Clean Air Act 1971 Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]

established. 1970established. 1970 Occupational Health and Safety Occupational Health and Safety

Administration [OSHA] established. 1970Administration [OSHA] established. 1970 War on DrugsWar on Drugs Title IXTitle IX Apollo 11Apollo 11