nixon and the cold war

Nixon and the Cold WarChapter 20 Section 5

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Nixon Redefines American Foreign Policy

Before Nixon:

capitalism vs. communism =

us vs. themimaginarynumbers.deviantart.com 

Henry Kissinger =

Nixon’s top foreign policy advisor – Secretary of State 1973

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Both Nixon and Kissinger: liked the idea of “realpolitik” saw USSR and China as potential

trade partners realized Germany and Japan were

beginning to threaten US business interests

understood communism was not going to result in a worldwide “Dictatorship of the Proletariat”

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Playing the China Card Nixon wanted to focus his Presidency

on foreign policy This was opposite of Johnson who

preferred to focus on his Great Society program and domestic issues.

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People’s Republic of China Came to exist in 1949 Was not recognized by the USA as the legal

government of China The USA recognized the Nationalist Chinese

government in exile in Taiwan as the legal government of China

Was not a member of the United Nations

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Reasons for Reaching Out to China Nixon knew he could not ignore the PRC Diplomatic relations could benefit the US

economically and politically Nixon also thought that the Chinese might be

able to convince the North Vietnamese to back off

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Nixon Normalizes Relations With China Chinese invite American Table Tennis team This opens door for talks Kissinger talks with Zhou Enlai the Chinese

Premier February 1972 Nixon goes to China He meets with Chairman Mao and Zhou

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Results of China Visit American tourists allowed to go to China the

following year American businesses begin to trade with

China By 1979 US and China have full diplomatic

relations

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Détente With the Soviet Union USSR not comfortable with USA getting along

well with China Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet leader, invited Nixon

to USSR May 1972 Nixon goes

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Results of Soviet Visit USSR and USA agreed to work together to:

Reduce pollution Enhance environmental quality Fight cancer and heart disease Conduct a joint space mission

Signed SALT I Détente – reducing of tensions

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SALT IStrategic Arms Limitation Treaty

Froze deployment of ICBMs (intercontinental ballistic missiles)

Limited ABMs (antiballistic missiles) Did not limit MIRVs (multiple independent

reentry vehicles) Did not end arms race

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Nixon’s Foreign Policy Breakthroughs Short term:

Getting US out of Vietnam Long term:

Got US a step closer to end of Cold War

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