The Rise and Fall of Richard M. Nixon

Trip to China

President Nixon pursued two important policies that both culminated in 1972. In February he visited Beijing, setting in motion normalization of relations with the People's Republic of China

Nixon at the Great Wall of China

In May, he traveled to the Soviet Union and signed agreements that contained the results of the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty talks (SALT), and new negotiations were begun to extend further arms control and disarmament measures.

These developments marked the beginning of a period of détente

détente

Oil Crisis 1973 Gas Shortage

Watergate Complex