Late Cold War Events

Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush

1969 - 1991

President Nixon 1969 - 1974

• Focused his foreign policy on reestablishing relations with China and Soviet Union (Détente)

Realpolitik: The belief that America should base foreign policies on national interests not on abstract ideologies.

- Example, trade with Soviets and Chinese would greatly assist American economy.

Nixon and China

• April 1971

US/Chinese ping pong competition.

Opened talks between Nixon and Mao Zedong Ping Pong Diplomacy

Nixon and China• “recognition of China”• Since China became

communist, America only recognized the non-communist government of Taiwan.

• China was not allowed to enter the UN

Nixon and Mao Zedong

Nixon and China

Hope that US/China peaceful relations would drive a wedge between China and Soviet Union.

Nixon and China

• 1973 America begins to build industry and trade in China ending 25 years of no communication. Bejing, China

Nixon and the Economy

• Stagflation: Duel conditions of stagnating economy and inflationary pressures.

- Debt from Vietnam War produced inflation

- Foreign competition in auto and steel led to reduction of US jobs and wages

- Nixon tries to freeze prices and cap wages but economy tailspins through the 1970s.

Nixon and Economy• Organization of

Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

- Arab oil producing countries who work together to regulate the price of oil.

- 1973 Israel was at war with Arab neighbors – the US Supported Israel.

- OPEC embargo of oil to the US

Nixon and Soviet Union

• Chinese/US relations forced open talks with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev

Nixon and Soviet Union• SALTI (Strategic

Arms Limitation Treaty)

First step in reduction of tension between US and Soviets.

Froze the deployment of ICBMs and limited the number of missiles on both sides

US Titan ICBM

Nixon Legacy

• Nixon changed the way America viewed communism and communist countries

• Major step to ending the Cold War

• However, Nixon is most remembered for his involvement with the Watergate scandal.

President Gerald Ford1974-1977

• Pardoned Nixon for all crimes associated with the Watergate scandal. Ford will not be reelected to office due this pardon.

President Ford 1974 - 1977

• Helsinki Accords- August 1, 1975.- 35 nations signed- Agreement with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev which

supported human rights.

The agreement recognized the inherent relationship between respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the attainment of genuine peace and security.- Soviets actions towards descendants- Restriction of Jews immigrating

Helsinki, Finland

President Carter1977 - 1981

• Wanted to continue human rights and détente goals.

Carter• SALTII

Pledge between the US and Soviet Union which limited nuclear arms production.

Carter and Afghanistan

• Congress did not support SALTII Treaty for fear of lost national security.

• 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan forced Carter to withdraw SALTII and place sanctions on Soviet Union. – Sanctions included boycotting

the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and suspension of grain sales to the Soviet Union.

Mujahideen

Soviet Invasion

Carter and Middle East

• Camp David Accords

Bitter war between Egypt and Israel since 1948

Carter invited Anwar el-Sadat from Egypt and Menachem Begin from Israel to Camp David for a two week diplomatic negociations.

Anwar el-Sadat

Menachem Begin

CampDavid

Accords

Carter and Camp David Accords

• Peace treaty:

1.Israeli troops withdrawn from Sinai Pennisula

2. Egypt would recognize Israel as a country marking the first Arab nation to establish peace.

Carter

Iranian Hostage Crisis:1953 CIA worked to

overthrow Mohammed Mossadegh and reinstated Mohammed Reza Pahlavi as Iran’s shah or Monarchy.

In exchange for US economic and military aid to Iran the US would receive a continuous supply of oil.

Mohammed Mossadegh

Mohammed Reza Pahalavi and wife Queen Soraya

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• The Shah promised the Iranian’s increased personal freedoms and social reforms but did not follow through

• As the Shah became more wealthy, his lifestyle became more Western and this upset many Iranians

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• January 1979 the Shah was forced to abdicate the throne and a new ruler Ayatollah Khomeini took over

• Khomeini rallied against the US calling the American government the “Great Satan” and “Enemy of Islam”

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• The Shah needed medical treatment for cancer and was allowed entrance into the US for treatment.

• In response to this on November 4th 1979, radical Iranian students stormed the American Embassy in Teheran.

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• The US responded by canceling oil imports from Iran, expelled Iranians from the US, and froze $8 billion Iranian assets in the US.

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• Ayatollah Khomeini issued a list of demands in exchange for the hostages– Shah return to Iran– Apology from US for involvement in Iran– Promise to stay out of Iranian affairs

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• Carter’s response:– Secret mission to rescue the 52 hostages

called Operation Eagle Claw- Eight helicopters were sent into the desert; two turned

back immediately due to sand storms. The remaining six also had to abort the mission.

• Desert One was the rendevous for the Helicopters and C-130.

• It was decided to turn back at Desert One.

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

• When taking off from Desert One a C-130 and helicopter collided and exploded

• The Iranians televised the wreckage • Seven of the charred bodies were paraded

through the streets of Tehran in protest.

CarterIranian Hostage Crisis

Carter will lose the election to Reagan as a result of the hostage crisis and inability to rescue the hostages.

Hostages will be released 444 days later after Reagan won the Presidential election

President Reagan1981 – 1989

• Did not support Détente

• Wanted to force the Soviets back into Eastern Europe

• Believed US needed to build up military and missiles to defeat Soviets through numbers and prestige Reagan’s foreign policy often

focused on traditional Cold War issues.

Reagan“Star Wars”

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)

Use of lasers to strike down missiles prior to reaching their strike zone.

Reagan

• 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union

• Used policy of Glasnost and Perestroika:

Glosnost meant a “new Openness”

Perestroika was a movement away from a socialist or state controlled economy.

Created a movement toward better relations.

Reagan and Afghanistan

• Weaken Soviets by supporting anti-communists attempts

• US funded and supported the Mujahadeen (Freedom Fighters), anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan

• Soviets leave Afghanistan in 1989

ReaganIran – Contra Affair

• Nicaragua government, the Sandinistas, were providing Soviet refuge

• US back the Contras who were anti-communists

• US sold weapons to Iran and used the money to fund the Contras

• Congress did not approve of the money support

ReaganThe Cold War Ends

• Nov 1989 Berlin Wall Fell

• 1989 – 1990 All Soviet Satellite nations become democracies

• 1991 Soviet Union broke into 15 independent republics under the Boris Yeltsin as president.

George H. W. Bush1989 - 1993

• 1992 Bush and Yeltsin meet and issue a joint statement pledging friendship and cooperation as well as agree to scale down and eliminate certain types of nuclear weapons. (START1)