Cartoons of the Day

The Cold War: Military, Reagan & Gorbachev, and Collapse of the Soviet Union

AMERICA’S MILITARY DURING THE COLD WAR In Pres. John F. Kennedy’s INAUGURAL ADDRESS, he pledged that the United States would “PAY ANY PRICE, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty”

A STRONG military was key to America’s success in the Cold War During the Cold War, MILLIONS of Americans served in the military, defending freedom in wars and conflicts that were NOT ALWAYS POPULAR. Many were killed or wounded.

Conflict Number serving Total deaths Battle deaths Other deaths Wounded KOREAN WAR 5,720,000 36,574 33,739 2,835 103,284 VIETNAMWAR 8,744,000 58,220 47,434 10,786 303,644 Persian Gulf War 2,225,000 383 147 235 467

As a result of their service, the UNITED STATES and American IDEALS of democracy and freedom ultimately PREVAILED in the Cold War struggle with Soviet communism

VETERANS OF THE COLD WAR UNLIKE WWII veterans (who returned to a grateful, supportive nation), VIETNAM VETERANS returned often to face INDIFFERENCE or outright HOSTILITY It was not until SEVERAL YEARS AFTER the war ended that the wounds of the war began to HEAL in America, and Vietnam veterans were RECOGNIZED for their service and sacrifice

HOMELESS VETERANS 8.2 MILLION Vietnam-era veterans 429,000 veterans served in BOTH the Korean and Vietnam conflicts VETERANS AFFAIRS estimates that approx. 107,000 veterans are HOMELESS on any given night Nearly HALF of homeless veterans served during the VIETNAM ERA. Two-thirds served our country for at least THREE YEARS, and one-third were stationed in a WAR ZONE.

Nixon and Foreign Policy Richard M. Nixon elected president in 1968 Nixon’s greatest achievements as President occurred in FOREIGN POLICY CREATIVE approach to foreign affairs helped ease Cold War TENSIONS Relied heavily on Secretary of State HENRY KISSINGER

Nixon and Kissinger brought about DÉTENTE (a RELAXATION in tensions) between the UNITED STATES and the world’s two Communist GIANTS – CHINA and the SOVIET UNION.

IMPROVED relationship with China LIFTED restrictions on travel to China ENDED trade embargo Nixon was FIRST PRESIDENT to visit China (1972)

IMPROVED relationship with Soviet Union Nixon VISITED Soviet Union in 1972, met with Soviet premier Completed negotiations on SALT I (STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS TALKS) – froze the number of missiles at 1972 levels

Ford and Carter After Nixon RESIGNED on August 9, 1974, GERALD R. FORD became president Ford PARDONED Nixon for all offenses (SPARED HIM from further punishment)

1976 election won by JIMMY CARTER Former PEANUT FARMER, GOVERNOR of Georgia, NO national political experience Carter faced several issues during his presidency, including: Unstable ECONOMY BOYCOTT of 1980 Olympics in Moscow IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS

REAGAN & GORBACHEV Reagan elected president in 1980 Former HOLLYWOOD ACTOR GOVERNOR of California when elected OLDEST man to serve as President

Reagan believed in a tough approach toward the Soviet Union (the “EVIL EMPIRE”) Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE  proposed creation of massive satellite shield in space (nicknamed “Star Wars”)

Reagan INCREASED U.S. military and economic PRESSURE on the Soviet Union CHALLENGED moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union  example: SPEECH AT BERLIN WALL Despite fierce anti-Communist attitude, Reagan developed CLOSE FRIENDSHIP with Soviet leader Mikhail GORBACHEV

Gorbachev’s policies To reform ailing Soviet system, Gorbachev instituted GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA Glasnost: means “POLITICAL OPENESS” (freedom of speech) Perestroika: means “RESTRUCTURING”, an economic policy to allow LIMITED free enterprise (capitalism)

END OF THE SOVIET UNION: REASONS FOR COLLAPSE INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES to compete with the United States Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet republics

Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy) Economic INEFFICIENCY Policies of GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA = opening up of the political system

Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union Dissolves NOVEMBER 9, 1989 – Berlin Wall comes down

Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the presidency of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union was DISSOLVED by the next week Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE ALLIANCE of former Soviet republics called the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES

Reagan at Brandenburg Gate