The Cold War Abroad US Foreign Policy: 1945-1980
Truman 1945-1953
President Truman Yalta (FDR was still President) Containment Policy by George Kennan National Security Act 1947 NSC-68 Truman Doctrine Marshall Plan Chinese Revolution Early Cold War Actions Berlin Blockade & Airlift USSR Atomic Bomb NATO Korean War
The Arms Race Once the Soviet Union successfully tested the atomic bomb, the arms race was on. MAD (mutually assured destruction) was designed to keep both sides from "pushing the button," by giving both sides equality in "kill power."
Nuclear Proliferation Following the United States, other countries followed suit in acquiring nuclear weapons Soviet Union (1949) Great Britain (1952))) France (1960) China (1964) India (1974) Pakistan (1998) Israel (1967?) North Korea (?) Nuclear Explosions
Eisenhower 1953-1961
President Eisenhower Korean War ended Guatemala Coup 1954 Hungarian Uprising 1956 Suez Canal Crisis Eisenhower Doctrine Middle Eastern countries could request American economic assistance or aid from US forces if they were being threatened by armed aggression. U-2 Incident “Brinksmanship” 1st Involvement in Vietnam Military Industrial Complex
“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty” - John F. Kennedy Kennedy 1961-1963 “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country” - John F. Kennedy
President Kennedy “Flexible Response” Bay of Pigs Berlin Wall Peace Corps Alliance for Progress Bay of Pigs Berlin Wall Cuban Missile Crisis Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Prohibited testing in outer space, in the atmosphere, and underwater Vietnam Involvement Space Race
Johnson 1963-1969
President Johnson “Domino Theory” Escalation of the Vietnam War Tonkin Gulf Resolution My Lai Massacre, 1968 Tet Offensive, 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1964) – Nations agreed not to develop nuclear weapons Indonesia, 1965
Nixon 1969-1974
President Nixon “Detente” & “realpolitik” Nixon Doctrine SALT I The US would assist in the defense and developments of allies and friends”...(but would not) “undertake all the defense of the free nations of the world.” Vietnamization SALT I Nixon visited China War Powers Resolution, 1973 1973 Chilean Coup of Salvadore Allende - replaced with Pinochet Cambodia - led to rise of Pol Pot
Ford 1974-1977
President Ford Policy of detente continues Fall of Saigon South Vietnam fell to Communist forces Helsinki Accords
Carter 1977-1981
President Carter Human Rights Policy announced SALT II Soviet invasion of Afghanistan 1980 Olympic Boycott Carter Doctrine United States would use military force if necessary to defend its national interests in the Persian Gulf. Energy Crisis Iran Hostage Crisis, 1979 Panama Canal Camp David Accords