Nixon & Détente

What is détente? Easing of tensions between the US & USSR A "thaw" in the Cold War Designed and implemented by Henry Kissinger Henry Kissinger, Secretary of State & NSA ( )

Reasons for détente Parity between US and USSR in regards to nuclear capabilities Weaker American economic position as countries recovered from WWII Vietnam War made American public less tolerant of containment policies

Policies of Détente Place importance on interests rather than ideology Less focus on the policy of containment and more on global realities Improve relations with the Soviet Union and treat it as a "status quo" power "Open" China to encourage American friendship

Bipolar vs. Multipolar World Need to encourage the rise of other powers Multipolarity offered option to creating alliances EX: China or a united Europe

President Richard Nixon ( ) 37th president of the U.S. ( ) Ended American fighting in Vietnam and improved relations with the Soviet Union Cold War "warrior" who also used detente

Nikita Khrushchev ( ) Enigmatic individual o Very tense period of Cold War, yet more liberal than Stalin Responsible for "thaw" in Soviet policy o -Led a "de- Stalinization" effort Supported the policy of "peaceful coexistence" (with the U.S.) Nikita Khrushchev

Nixon & Khrushchev July 24, "Kitchen Debate" at the Moscow Fair in the Soviet Union

Kitchen Debate (July 24, 1959) Impromptu debate at a fair in Moscow in front of a "typical American kitchen" Originally lighthearted, but turned belligerent Exemplified the growing technological rivalry between the US & USSR Both tried to extol the virtues of their respective countries

Leonid Brezhnev ( ) Brezhnev Leader of the Soviet Union Responsible for Soviet expansion, but also beginning "détente" with the West Created the "Brezhnev Doctrine" o -a threat against socialism in one country is a threat against all

Nixon & Brezhnev: Détente Continuation of "peaceful coexistence" o Promoted cultural contacts and increased trade  Set up "linkages" to persuade USSR of economic and social benefits of being friendly with the US o SALT I (1972): Antiballistic Missile Treaty  Agreed to limit their antiballistic missile systems  Policy of "equivalence" was the best way to avoid nuclear confrontation

Nixon and Brezhnev

US-Soviet relations began to source as relations with China improved

China after WWII Relations b/w China & US became frayed Communist victory -US recognized Taiwan (Republic of China) -Korean War China became isolated from major capitalist powers and relied almost entirely on the Soviet Union

Sino-Soviet Split (1966) Split made Cold War go from bipolarity to multipolarity Khrushchev's "peaceful coexistence" undermined relations with China Mao did not like de-Stalinization Competition w/USSR Key disagreement: o Mao wanted Khrushchev to go on offensive to promote worldwide revolution o China wanted assistance in re-taking Taiwan

Nixon visits China Nixon and Mao in China Visited in February 1972 Opened relations with China Made Soviets want to pursue detente 1st US president to visit People's Republic of China Established trade and cultural contacts "The week that changed the world"

Gerald Ford ( ) August became president after Nixon resigned Continued the policy of detente Reached new arms limitation talk while in office w/Brezhnev (not agreed upon until SALT II) Helsinki Accords (1975) o committed countries to recognize and protect human rights o recognized borders in central and eastern europe Gerald Ford, 38th President