Nixon’s Foreign Policy Chapter 32 Section 3 Angela Brown

Henry Kissinger Kissinger’s Jewish family fled Nazi Germany in 1938 when 15 years old – settled in New York Worked shaving brush company during the day – high school courses at night City College of New York – transferred to Harvard for undergraduate and graduate degrees Studied European history real politik – German term for practical politics

Henry Kissinger Nations followed policies to maintain own strength rather than adhering to rigid moral principles Would apply approach to relations with China and Soviet Union Harvard Professor – expert on foreign relations Both men suspicious and secretive

Harvard University

Henry Kissinger Instilled foreign policy issues into briefing papers that gave Nixon clear options for making decisions Understood power of press – used media to shape public opinion Shared 1973 Nobel Peace Prize with North Vietnam’s Le Duc Tho – who refused it

Henry Kissinger Appeared on 21 Time magazine covers 1973 Gallup Poll led list of most admired Americans Left a lasting mark on American Foreign Policy

Relaxing Tensions Greatest accomplishment – détente, relaxed tensions between U.S., China and Soviet Union Distrusted bureaucracy Nixon and Kissinger kept most of diplomacy secret bypassed advisors and Congress.

Relaxing Tensions They stunned observers with willingness to negotiate peacefully 1950s had been one of most active anti-communist in government. Drew on Kissinger’s complex understanding of foreign affairs Communist world held serious rifts within– more than with U.S.

A New Approach to China Up to this point U.S. policy rightful government of China the government of Jiang Jieshi on the island of Taiwan – other government, People’s Republic of China did not exist Quietly Nixon prepared new policy of real politik

A New Approach to China Moves to open better relations: –1970 U.S. and Chinese Ambassadors met in Warsaw, Poland –Oct 1970 Nixon referred to China as People’s Republic of China – first for American President –March 1971 U.S. government lifted travel restrictions to China

A New Approach to China –April 1971 “ping pong diplomacy” – U.S. table tennis team accepted invitation to visit mainland –June 1971 ended 21 year trade embargo July 1971 Nixon announced a visit to China planned for 1972 first U.S. president to travel to China

A New Approach to China Understood People’s Republic an established government that would not disappear Nixon wanted to use Chinese friendship as bargaining chip with Soviet Union Feb 1971 met with Mao Zedong in China and Premier Zhou Enlai about international problems

A New Approach to China He and wife Pat toured Great Wall and other sights in front of TV cameras Waited in plane for Prime Time TV to share return with most viewers Formal relations not restored but diplomatic ties established

Limiting Nuclear Arms 1972 Nixon visited Soviet Union Nixon and Premier Leonid Brezhnev agreed to work together to explore space, eased trade limits, and negotiated a weapons pact 1971 Soviet Union passed U.S. in total number of land and submarine based nuclear missiles for first time

Limiting Nuclear Arms Weapons control = vital part of Foreign Policy Proliferation – growth of nuclear weapons – a worry 1963 Limited Test Ban Treaty allowed underground testing – people feared world might be destroyed Came to office ready to move ahead of USSR in nuclear weapons – recognized this made little sense and balance between superpowers was necessary

Limiting Nuclear Arms 1969 Strategic Arms Limitations talks with Soviet Union – 1972 produced pact to limit offensive nuclear weapons – ready to sign in Moscow The first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty SALT I – included five year agreement to hold (ICBM’s- Intercontinental) and (SLBM’s - submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles) at 1972 levels.

Limiting Nuclear Arms Ballistic missiles ascend in a controlled manner and descend in a free-fall Included agreement restricting development and deployment on anti- ballistic missile defend systems Diplomatic triumph but did not limit number of warheads possessed or stop improvement in systems – showed arms control agreements possible