Détente and America

Review: Cold WarCold war began after WWII and lasted until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The Cold War was marked by constant tensions between the USSR and USA, but no armed Conflict. At the heart of the issue was Communism vs democracy.

From Cold War to Détente After finally withdrawing from Vietnam, a Peace with Honor, Nixon began working on ways to work with communist nations and avoid further war. He issued the Nixon Doctrine in 1969, announcing he would no longer provide direct military assistance to countries fighting communism.

Nixon Doctrine:The USA will no

longer use direct military aid in Asia

Nixon and ChinaSince Mao Zedong had taken over China and turned it Communist the Americans had limited relations with the Chinese. During the Korean War relations soured when they pushed UN troops back to the 38th parallel. Nixon’s goal was to reestablish diplomatic relations with China. 1) Presidential Visit- in February 1972 Nixon visited China along with Henry

Kissinger2) The visit opened the door to trade again.

American manufacturers could sell their products to China’s huge market

Nixon and the Soviet UnionNixon and Kissinger created a policy known as Détente, or openness. The goal was to solve conflict through diplomacy, instead of through containment. To show his devotion to détente, President Nixon visited the Soviet Union in May 1972.

Realpolitik Nixon’s foreign policy is known as Realpolitik, or power politics. Nixon focus was making diplomatic decisions to maintain American strength, regardless of public or world opinion. Realpolitik also led to the development of SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Talks)

Nixon and SALTWhile in Moscow, Nixon and the Soviets began talks to limit defensive and offensive missiles in each nation. Nixon and Kissinger were concerned about the widespread proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ultimately, both nations agreed to reduce the total number of missiles on hand.

Proliferation:Growth or increase

Review: New frontierJohn F. Kennedy envisioned an America with more equality than ever before. He pushed for Civil Rights, wanted to help the poor and tried to bring peace to the world with his Peace Corps. The Peace Corps had thousands of American volunteers to help developing nations. Kennedy also launched the Space Race in response to the Soviet launch of Sputnik and a manned orbital launch.

Johnson’s Great Society Johnson tried to continue many of Kennedy’s social programs. He set up the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program to perform the same job as Peace Corps within America. Johnson also helped pass the Elementary and Secondary Education Act providing more than $1 Billion in federal aid to education. More money went to schools with low income families. Only integrated schools could receive money.

Since FDR’s New Deal programs, many presidents were willing to use

Government money to help the economically disadvantaged.

War on PovertyJohnson often referred to his ideas as a war on Poverty. Many of his plans worked to help low income Americans:

-Office of Economic Opportunity ( Head Start, College loans for low income students, etc)-Medicare provides limited health insurance for anyone over 65-Department of Housing and Urban Development to ensure safe city

housing-Food Stamp Program to ensure food for low income families. Includes SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

Does the artist believe the ‘War on Poverty” is working? How do you know?

Nixon at homeNixon’s focus was on foreign policy. He knew as a Republican president, he would struggle to get the Democratic Congress to work with him on many issues. Overall, Nixon’s Domestic goals were limited.

Nixon’s Domestic Policies-OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) ensures safe and healthy workplaces for all Americans.

-EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) used federal resources to fight pollution and protect the environment

-Clean Air Act- addressed air pollution by setting quotas on the amount of air pollution from factories. It was revised in 1990 to address more issues

-DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) enforced federal drug laws. Today the DEA focuses on preventing influx of drugs from foreign sources

-Energy Reorganization Act maintains safety in our energy production and nuclear capabilities for power and weapons

Moon LandingSince the Soviet launch of Sputnik, Americans had pumped billions into space research to get a man to the moon. In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon. This was seen as a huge accomplishment.

Nixon’s successesUnder Nixon’s presidency the rights of workers and Americans in general were improved. In addition to programs like OSHA and DEA, the 26th Amendment was passed under Nixon’s Administration. This guaranteed the right to vote to all American citizens aged 18 and older.

Nixon’s fallIn 1972, Nixon began a run for re-election. During his campaign he claimed credit for reducing inflation and promoted his foreign policy accomplishments. He easily won by a large majority and secured his next 4 years in office. However, within 2 years he was voluntarily resigning due to actions committed during the reelection campaign:

What: illegal wire-tapping of Democratic party’s headquartersWhere: Watergate Towers in Washington, D.C.When: June 17, 1972Who: The Committee to re-elect the President, with Nixon’s high advisors

authority.Why: To undermine the election campaign by knowing the Democratic

candidate’s plan

Watergate cover-upThe “burglars” were caught on the way leaving the Watergate Towers, with evidence linking them to the White House. While Nixon had not known of the plan before hand, he did authorize a cover-up of the crime, a federal offense. The Crime was uncovered with the help of reporters from the Washington Post and officially dubbed the Watergate Affair. Despite reports from the Washington Post, Nixon easily won re-election.

Deep throat- Codename for the source

of information to the Washington Post.

InvestigationThe reporter’s articles pointed the Senate in the right direction. In 1973 the Senate set up a committee to look into “Illegal, improper or unethical activities” in the 1972 election. The Senate Committee continued gathering evidence for more than a year before indicting the President.

Agnew ResignsDuring the Watergate Investigations, the Justice Department found evidence that the Vice President, Spiro Agnew had evaded tax. To avoid trial Agnew resigned. Nixon was then able to appoint a replacement, and he chose Gerald Ford, the minority leader in the House of Representatives.

The TapesAs the investigation continued, the Senate Committee learned that the white House had kept tape recordings of key conversations between Nixon and his top aides. Nixon refused to turn the tapes over to the Senate. Soon the Senate committee had begun airing the hearings and investigation on Television. Millions of Americans watched each day.

Nixon resignsTo the end Nixon refused to turn over the tapes until the Supreme Court ordered him to do so in United States v Richard Nixon. The evidence on the tape prompted the committee to start impeachment plans of the president. Before official charges could come, Nixon chose to resign from office. President Gerald Ford became president on August 9th, at noon.

Unelected PresidentsGerald Ford became the first ever unelected president. Originally Spiro Agnew had been voted as Vice President, but his resignation ushered Ford into the VP position. With Nixon’s resignation, Ford became President. Ford named Nelson Rockefeller as his new Vice President. Thus both the President and VP were not elected, but were appointed.

The Constitution Works!Though Nixon left office before he was charged with any crimes, Ford officially pardoned him. While Nixon faced no legal repercussions, his top advisors were convicted of a variety of crimes. Ford announced that the incident showed that the “Constitution works” because checks and balances had stopped Nixon from placing the President above the Constitution.

Ford as president- DomesticFord had to restore confidence in the Presidency after “Imperial” Nixon had abused his power:

-Nixon’s Pardon

-Amnesty Plan- to pardon thousands of young men who had dodged the draft or left the military during the Vietnam War

-Inflation- OPEC placed an oil embargo on the US in retaliation for American support for the Jewish Israeli nation. The price of gas more than doubled and rationing became necessary. The high price of gas caused huge inflation.

American Oil IndependenceThe Oil Crisis of 1973 worried Americans, and demonstrated how reliant the US had become on foreign nations’ oil supplies. The shortage caused the price of Oil to skyrocket from $3 a barrel to $12. Americans were urged to heat only one room in the winter, and to avoid hanging Christmas lights. Though the oil Embargo was lifted in 1974, Americans began focusing on ways to increase domestic production and limit the use of fossil fuels.

Ford’s Foreign PoliciesHenry Kissinger continued working with the Ford Administration after Nixon’s resignation. Under Ford’s Administration, Kissinger was able to negotiate a ceasefire between Egypt and Israel, to end the oil Embargo. He also continued the policy of Détente with the USSR, and oversaw the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam.

Carter overtakes FordDespite a boost in American Nationalism with the Bicentennial Celebration (1976) Ford was not able to win reelection. Instead, Jimmy Carter won the ‘76 election. Carter won by running a campaign to promote his honesty and down home values.

StagflationDespite Carter’s optimism, Washington was gridlocked. The Congress was full of newly elected members who questioned everything and accomplished little. The Economy had also become a pressing concern. Unemployment was rising, and inflation was still high since the Oil Embargo.

Stagflation-Stalled economy

and simultaneous inflation

Carter’s Energy ProblemThe United States has always been the world’s leading consumer of oil, and historically have imported a majority of it. Even in the 1970s, after the oil embargo, we were importing over 40% of our oil. In 1977 the Department of Energy was created to develop a national energy plan including conservation, environmental protection and the development of alternative sources of energy

Environmental ProblemsThe Department of Energy was not only concerned with alternative energy sources for financial purposes, but also to combat the pollution impacting America. Acid Rain was threatening forests, lakes and wildlife. The use of coal was growing as oil was so expensive, but coal pollutes heavily. Carter was constantly stuck between economic and environmental pressures.

Nuclear PowerCarter supported Nuclear Energy as a possible clean energy source. In 1979 an accident at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant scared many Americans. Though the problem was under control quickly, it scared Americans by highlighting the dangers of Nuclear Power.

National and Trade Deficit In the 1970s Americans imported more than it exported. This situation is dangerous to a national economy and weakened America. Dollars flowed out of the country instead of in. Additionally, the government was still investing heavily in programs for the poor and disadvantaged, worsening the national budget deficit.

Carter’s Foreign PolicyCarter’s foreign policies were highlighted by conflict in the middle east, especially between the Egyptian (Muslim) and Israeli (Jewish) nations. In 1977 Carter invited the leaders of both countries to Camp David in an attempt for peace between the two nations. At Camp David, Egyptian Sadat and Israeli Begin created a peace Treaty, known simply as the Camp David Accords. In the treaty, Egypt recognized Israel as a nation, but other Arab nations refuse to recognize it as a country.

Détente problemsDespite the policy of Détente, or openness, with the USSR, problems arose. In 1979 Carter met with soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev to renew and update a SALT II Treaty. However, a year later, the Soviets invaded Afghanistan. America saw this as an intrusion of an autonomous nation and the spread of communism.

Détente and Afghanistan Even though the policy of Containment was gone, the American President was furious with the Soviet invasion of the oil rich Afghanistan. To help undermine the Soviets our nation secretly sent weapons to the Afghan rebels, known today as the Taliban.

Diplomatically, Carter cut off grain shipments to the Soviet Union. Carter also had the US sit out of the Moscow Olympics in 1980 to boycott soviet practices.

Iran and HostagesIn 1979, Islamic fundamentalists toppled the Shah, Reza Pahlavi. America had supported the Western minded Shah while the new Islamic government disliked America. When the Shah asked to come to the US for medical treatments for terminal cancer, Carter agreed. The New Islamic government was angered by this and retaliated. They stormed the US embassy in Teheran and seized more than 50 American hostages. Negotiations went no where. It wasn’t until President Reagan took his oath of Office that the Iranians finally let the hostages go.

President Ronald ReaganIn the 1980 Presidential Campaign, Reagan used the slogan “a New Beginning” to gain support. Reagan said the US needed a new beginning after the turmoil of the middle East. Reagan easily won election, and on his inauguration day, the Iranians let the American Hostages go free.

ReviewQuestion The successful launching of Sputnik by the Soviet Union in 1957 signaled the beginning of1. American fears that the Soviets had achieved technological

superiority2. The Cold War with the United States3. Soviet aggression in Afghanistan and China4. Disarmament discussions between the superpowers

ReviewWhich is a valid conclusion based on United States involvement in the Korean and Vietnam Wars?1. The policy of containment was applied in Asia as well as in

Europe2. United Nations economic sanctions are more effective than

military action3. The American people will support United States participation

in any way, whether declared or undeclared4. United States cooperation with a wartime ally ends when

the war ends

ReviewWhich list of wars that involved the United States is in the correct chronological order?1. Vietnam war War on Terrorism Korean War World War II2. Korean War World War II Vietnam War War on

Terrorism3. World War II Vietnam War War on Terrorism Korean

War4. World War II Korean War Vietnam War War on

Terrorism

ReviewPresident Richard Nixon supported the policy of détente as a way to 1. reduce tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union 2. introduce democratic elections to communist nations 3. encourage satellite nations to break their ties with the Soviet

Union 4. undermine Soviet influence among nonaligned countries in

Africa and Asia

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