1. 1970s and Nixon Pt 2
Foreign Policy

2. Richard Nixon Elected in 1968 and 1972- through a lot of Vietnam
Only president to ever resign- Watergate scandal

3. Foreign Policy Realpolitik – foreign policy of Nixon
US should make decisions based on national interests; not ideas/beliefs (like anti-communist)
Shift from strong anti- communist/containment position
Resulted in new relationships with communist nations and a relaxing of tension

4. Détente –means “relaxing,” major shift in U. S
Détente –means “relaxing,” major shift in U.S. policy towards relaxing relationships with Communist countries (pronounced day-taunt)
Even if a country was communist, we could still have a relationship if it was in our best interest
Nixon planned meetings with communist leaders
Thought détente would lessen tensions and increase economic activity
Also wanted to increase hostility b/t U.S.S.R. and China
We didn’t like them being friends- wanted to divide them
Foreign Policy

5. How did Nixon’s philosophies of realpolitik and détente differ from the idea of containment?

6. Changes with China
Feb. 1972, Nixon went to China to meet with Mao Zedong (1st Pres to go to China)
Agreed to support China’s admission to UN
Started economic and cultural exchanges
Finally agreed to recognize Communist China as a nation; 1979
**Ping-pong diplomacy (Forrest Gump)

8. What was the significance of Nixon’s trip to China?

9. US Relations with Soviet Union
May ‘72, Nixon traveled to Soviet Union
Soviets wanted U.S. foodstuffs; feared US/ China relationship
Also tired of threats to destroy each other
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) – US and USSR had enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other
If either country launched, the other would respond, assuring destruction of both
But it also prevented nuclear war- fear of destruction
Soviets approached Nixon about reducing weapons

10. SALT I
SALT I- Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty; signed in May ’72 – attempt to reduce threat of nuclear war
US and USSR agreed to freeze # of intercontinental ballistic missiles (not make any more nuclear missiles)
ABM Treaty – agreed to limit # of antiballistic missiles systems (ABMs) which can protect against missiles
ABMs considered dangerous b/c could make a country more willing to use nuclear weapons b/c ABMs would protect them from counterattack

12. Causes of oil crisis in the 70s: US producing less oil, but consuming more; had to rely on other countries
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) – founded in (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela)- produces most of world’s oil
Could control price of oil by how much they produce
Oil Crisis of 1970s

14. Oil Crisis
B/c of Yom Kippur War, OPEC imposed oil embargo against US (helped Israel); price of oil went up 4x
Nixon refused to ration gasoline  gasoline shortage

18. What factors brought on the country’s oil crisis in the 1970s?
US supported Israel in conflict
OPEC embargoed oil against the US
US didn't ration gas
Massive gas shortages
What factors brought on the country’s oil crisis in the 1970s?

19. Visits with communist nations SALT- Limit nuclear weapons
Nixon's Foreign Policy
Realpolitik
Détente
Visits with communist nations
SALT- Limit nuclear weapons
Oil Crisis and shortage

20. Ford’s Presidency
Became president after Nixon resigned (remember Watergate)
Bad economy- inflation, unemployment, no growth- called stagflation
Stagnant economy (no movement) with inflation

21. Ford’s Presidency 75, U.S. completely withdrew from S Vietnam
Ford asked Congress for more $$ for S Vietnam, but Congress said no because of War Powers Act
Didn’t want to be in Vietnam anymore
Americans evacuated Saigon, South Vietnam in ‘75
Refugees swarmed U.S. embassy building
N Vietnamese surrounded embassy, only U.S. personnel got out
Broke promises to help many S Vietnamese who assisted US to get out- they got left

23. How could you characterize Ford’s presidency?

24. STAAR Practice

25. STAAR Practice

26. BIG IDEA
How did Nixon’s philosophies of realpolitik and détente differ from the idea of containment?