American Foreign Policy since 1972

Foreign policy under President Nixon détente – an easing of tensions with the Soviet Union and China. 1972, Nixon first president to visit Moscow signed SALT (Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty) with Soviet Leaders to limit nuclear arms. 1972, Nixon visited Mao Zedong in China Opened US-China trade, and paved way for China to enter the UN.

Watergate Election of 1972 ex-CIA agents broke into the Democratic Party headquarters in the Watergate office complex in DC. Nixon tried to protect the agents from investigation by claiming they were acting for national security.

Congress investigated. Nixon recorded conversations in the Oval Office. Nixon refused to give tapes over and argued “executive privilege.” United States v. Nixon – ordered him to hand over tapes. Tapes revealed Nixon was behind the cover-up. He resigned.

President Ford Gerald Ford was appointed VP after Spiro Agnew resigned. Ford pardoned Nixon. Continued Nixon’s policy of détente.

Ford and the Middle East OPEC – Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Arab members of OPEC boycotted the US bc traded with Israel. Oil prices increase after the war causing fuel shortages.

Helsinki Accords Helsinki Accords – recognized existing borders in Europe. Preserved peaceful relations between Western and Eastern Europe. Pledged “respect for human rights.”

President carter Jimmy Carter – focused foreign policy on American morality. Promised to hand over the Panama Canal to the government of Panama by 2000. Refused to work with dictators.

Camp David Accords Meeting between Menachem Begin of Israel and Anwar Sadat of Egypt. Camp David Accords – Egypt would recognize Israel. Israel returned the Sinai Peninsula.

Iranian Revolution and Hostage crisis 1979, religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini established an Islamic Republic. Followers of the Ayatollah seized the staff of the US embassy. Carter unable to free hostages.

Foreign Policy under Reagan Ronald Reagan – 40th president Iran released hostages on his inauguration. During term international terrorism became a threat. Libya and Lebanon.

Reagan referred to the Soviet Union as an “Evil Empire.” Wanted to roll back communism. Regan Doctrine Sent assistance to anti-communist fighters in Afghanistan, Grenada, and Nicaragua

Iran-Contra Affair American officials secretly sold arms to Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. Money from these arms sales went to anti-Communist Contras in Nicaragua, despite Congressional ban on aid. High ranking officials resigned. Reagan claimed he did not know about deal.

Reagan and the Soviet Union Soviet Union suffering in the 80s. 1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev assumed power. Glasnost – “openness” – people could criticize gov’t Perestroika – “restructuring” – allowed some free enterprise. Strategic Defense Initiative to protect the US from nuclear attack.

George HW Bush Presidency (1989-1993) Elected in 1988. Independence movements spread across Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. The Baltic states won their independence Poland elected a non-Communist gov’t The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989

George HW Bush Presidency (1989-1993) Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. East and West Germany reunited 1990. Persian Gulf War –troops sent to get Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi army out of Kuwait. Sent humanitarian aid to Somalia.

The Clinton Presidency (1993-2000) Yugoslavia – fighting broke out between ethnic groups. Christian Serbs killed Muslims in parts of Bosnia and Kosovo in a policy of genocide known as “ethnic cleansing.” Clinton used air strikes against Serbia.

Rwanda – another genocide. The Hutus were killing the Tutsis Rwanda – another genocide. The Hutus were killing the Tutsis. US and other nations slow to react. 850,000 people killed.

The Clinton Presidency (1993-2000) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) – increased trade with Mexico and Canada. World Trade Organization – oversee international trade

President George W. Bush and the War on Terror Election 2000 – Florida too close to call. Al Gore demanded a recount which was stopped by the Supreme Court in Gore v Bush.

September 11, 2001 – Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked several planes and flew them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field. 3,000 deaths.

The war on terror Afghanistan Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, American forces overthrew the Taliban. In order to overthrow Saddam Hussein Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.

President Obama In 2008, Barack Obama became the first African American president. Withdrew forces from Iraq. His administration found and killed Osama bin Laden. Arab Spring – Obama encouraged peaceful resolutions of revolts against dictatorships. Violence erupted in Libya, Syria, and Egypt.