Nixon’s Presidency: Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy Seen as Nixon’s greatest achievement Helped ease Cold War tensions, established ties with China, and crafted stronger relations wit the Soviet Union Henry Kissinger = Greatly aided Nixon’s foreign policy through his skillful diplomacy

Henry Kissinger Nixon relied heavily on Kissinger in dealing with foreign policy Public Opinion Knew how to use media to his advantage 1973: one of the most-admired Americans in the Gallup Poll

Relaxing Tensions Détente – relaxation of tensions Nixon was willing to conduct talks with Communists this was a complete reversal in direction of postwar American foreign policy Kissinger realized Soviet Union and China became bitter enemies and this had the potential to reshape global politics

China 1949, China became Communist U.S. did not formally recognize the People’s Republic of China American and Chinese Ambassadors met in Warsaw, Poland Nixon began referring to China by its official title (PR of C) U.S. gov’t lifted restrictions on travel to China “Ping-Pong Diplomacy” – U.S. table tennis team accepted a Chinese invitation to visit the mainland Nixon went to China in February 1972 Result: tensions eased between the U.S. and China!

Nixon met with Premier Leonid Brezhnev in the Soviet Union to figure out how to work together to explore space to ease longstanding trade limits to complete negotiations on a weapon pact Arms control was a vital part of Nixon’s foreign policy U.S. and Soviet Union were making bigger and more powerful bombs Soviet Union

“Shuttle Diplomacy” Kissinger traveled between Middle Eastern capitals to arrange peace after the Arab-Israeli War in 1973 1974 – Kissinger secured a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Syria Nixon visited Middle East to show his support of the efforts to reduce tensions All Secretary of States since Kissinger have used shuttle diplomacy to further U.S. foreign policy goals