Nixon ~ Ford ~ Carter

Foreign Policy Overview

I. Preexisting conditions leading to détenteA. Khrushchev leaves power in 1964B. Growing USSR-PRC tensionsC. Arab-Israeli War of 1967D. Czechoslovakia Invasion 1968E. World communist movement

disintegrated in 1969

II. Nixon Administration OutlooksA. Saw USSR as partner in ending Vietnam

WarB. Soviet nuclear and conventional parity

(Functional equivalence, as in the weaponry\

or military strength of adversaries) C. Linkage

D. Stability in the 3rd WorldE. Weapons development – anti-ballistic

missile system (ABM)

III. Arms Negotiations (Détente)A. Soviet Incentive to participate

1. Economic slowdown2. Needed technology and K investment

B. Forces against cooperation1. ‘Hit them while they are down’ – Vietnam2. Growing military strength

C. Strategic Arms Limitation Talks / Treaty (SALT)1. ABM worried USSR; 1st strike technology worried US2. SALT I signed May 1972

a. Limited deployment of ABMb. Did not cover offensive weapons

3. Non-weapons agreementsa. Space explorationb. Agricultural sales, Cultural exchanges, transportationc. Planned SALT II agenda

D. Political Implications of SALT = cooled political tensions with USSRand PRC (covered in next slide)

E. Strategic Implications of SALT – limits on US leads

IV.PRC – US Relations A. Increasing USSR-PRC tensionsB. Secret talksC. February 1972 Nixon visitD. Bipolar to Multi-polar world

V. Germany and all things GermanA. WWII heritageB. Past US-USSR tensionsC. Role of a treatyD. OstpolitikE. East-West German agreement of 1972

VI. The Middle East – Cold War PerspectiveA. The Six Day War (1967)

1. Egypt, Syria, and Jordan v. Israel2. Moscow threatened to intervene3. Israel won war, Moscow won influence

a. Naval ports in Egyptb. Soviet Air Force

B. USSR – Egyptian violence against IsraelC. Death of Nasser – Sadat takes power

1. Asks for USSR aid in gaining lost land2. USSR backs away due to détente3. Sadat expels all Soviet military in May 1972

D.Yom Kippur War (October 1973)1. Egypt & Syria attack Israel2. Soviet aid & encouragement for

all Arab nations3. Golda Meir threatens nuclear war4. US assistance to Israel5. Israeli advance deep into Egypt

prompts Soviet threat6. US troops put on alert7. Cease-fire

VII.Ford AdministrationA. Congress (re)asserts its power in foreign affairs

1. War Powers Resolution2. Ended Cambodian bombing3. Outlawed return visit to Vietnam4. USSR – human rights link

B. Lack of foreign policy optionsC. Economic disintegration

1. Weakening dollar2. Deficit spending3. Gold standard abandoned4. Foreign energy dependency

VIII.AfricaA. Seen as a net gain for USSRB. Introduction of non-superpower client states

1. Cuba2. South Africa

C. Test case = Angola1. UNITA – US/SA/PRC backed2. MPLA – USSR/Cuba backed

D. Orbit countries1. USSR – Mozambique, Ethiopia, Congo (B)2. US – South Africa, Zaire, Botswana

E. Soviets determined not to overextend

IX.Helsinki Accord (1973)A. Joint NATO-Warsaw Pact Security ConferenceB. The Helsinki Final Act

1. Gave legal standing to de facto boundaries following WWII2. Established human rights (and the

monitoring of it) a shared concern)

X. Carter AdministrationA. New demands by votersB. Approach going into office

1. Respect human rights2. Seek détente3. Arms control

C. New actors1. Cyrus Vance – SoD2. Zbigniew Brzezniew – NSA

D. Arms control (SALT II) as an economic policyE. Brezhnev’s failing leadership

XI. Slipping Away – World Trends A. Afghanistan – communistB. Fall of the Shah of IranC. American hostages (444 days)

D. Grenada – communist

E. Guatemala – communist

XII.US Foreign Policy Successes

A. Camp David Accords

1. Sinai Peninsula for recognition

2. Only lasting peace agreement to

date in the Middle East

3. USSR circumvented by peace process

B. Official recognition of PRC (1978)

President Jimmy Carter mediated between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

XIII.1979 – Year of disaster A. SALT II

1. Five years of negotiations2. Carter withdrew treaty from Senate protesting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (also boycotted ’80 Olympics)

B. Iran hostagesC. Cuban tensions