1. Nixon & the Cold War
Visit to People’s Republic Of China == immediate reaction from USSR
USSR leader Brezhnev feared that improved US-Chinese relations

2. Nixon’s new approach to Cold War
Prev approach: us & them; “enemy of my enemy is my friend”
New approach: realpolitik
Political goals --- defined by concrete nat’l interests, NOT abstract ideologies
More flexible & pragmatic; no absolutes
National Security Advisor: Henry Kissinger
Nixon: conservative CA Republican, suspicious of E. Coast
Kissinger…. Went to Harvard, Jewish, from Germany, had actually worked against Nixon in several previous presidential campaigns
Realpolitik --- if Americans would put aside Cold War biases & world with fresh eyes, US global interests could be surveyed in shades of grey rather than black & white. For ex: China & USSR --- America’s ideological enemies --- could be excellent trading partners. At same time – West Germany & Japan, who were our ideological friends, were developing into ECONOMIC rivals.
Also concluded there was no united worldwide Communsit movement as other presidents believed. Important differences between unique ideologies of USSR & China and other communist countries like Yugoslavia, N. Korea, N. Vietnam, etc.

3. Normalizing Relations with China
Nixon wanted to recognize China (most populous country but not officially rec’g or admitted to UN)
Benefit: economics / trade; politically (division w/ USSR); maybe N. Vietnam
February 1972: official state trip to China
Full diplomatic relations 1979
Nixon had built his career as a hard-line Cold Warrior, a vigilant opponent of communism - was the last politician that people expected to extend olive branch of recognition (and therefore peace)
China: Economic --- improved relations would bring significant trade agreements (esp good for California, Pacific Coast)
Wedge between China & USSR --- had become rivals for territorial and diplomatic influence
Maybe Chinese could pressure N. Vietnam to accept a negotiated peace to end the conflict, still going at the time
Announced official visit in July 1971
Toured Great Wall, historical sites, talked w/ Zhou Enlai & Mao Zedong; learned enough Chinese to make a toast in the language of the country
1973: set up trade, American tourists could go --

4. Détente with Soviet Union
May 1972: Nixon visited Moscow
Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT I): froze use of ICBMs, put limits on others (though not all)
Did not end arms race, but one step toward goal
Détente replaces previous efforts based on suspicion; efforts to reduce tensions/ hostility
Visit to People’s Republic Of China == immediate reaction from USSR
USSR leader Brezhnev feared that improved US-Chinese relations would isolate Russia, so invited Nixon to visit Moscow
Agreements about a wide variety of things --- environmental quality/ pollution; cancer; heart disease; plans to conduct joint US-USSR space mission