1. Late Cold War Events Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush

2. President Nixon
Focused his foreign policy on reestablishing relations with China and Soviet Union (Détente)
Realpolitik: The belief that America should base foreign policies on national interests not on abstract ideologies.
- Example, trade with Soviets and Chinese would greatly assist American economy.

3. Nixon and China April 1971 US/Chinese ping pong competition.
Opened talks between Nixon and Mao Zedong
Ping Pong Diplomacy

4. Nixon and China “recognition of China”
Since China became communist, America only recognized the non-communist government of Taiwan.
China was not allowed to enter the UN
Nixon and Mao Zedong

5. Nixon and China
Hope that US/China peaceful relations would drive a wedge between China and Soviet Union.

6. Nixon and China
1973 America begins to build industry and trade in China ending 25 years of no communication.
Bejing, China

7. Nixon and the Economy
Stagflation: Duel conditions of stagnating economy and inflationary pressures.
Debt from Vietnam War produced inflation
Foreign competition in auto and steel led to reduction of US jobs and wages
Nixon tries to freeze prices and cap wages but economy tailspins through the 1970s.

8. Nixon and Economy Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Arab oil producing countries who work together to regulate the price of oil.
1973 Israel was at war with Arab neighbors – the US Supported Israel.
OPEC embargo of oil to the US

10. Nixon and Soviet Union
Chinese/US relations forced open talks with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev

11. Nixon and Soviet Union SALTI (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty)
First step in reduction of tension between US and Soviets.
Froze the deployment of ICBMs and limited the number of missiles on both sides
US Titan ICBM

12. Nixon Legacy
Nixon changed the way America viewed communism and communist countries
Major step to ending the Cold War
However, Nixon is most remembered for his involvement with the Watergate scandal.

13. President Gerald Ford 1974-1977
Pardoned Nixon for all crimes associated with the Watergate scandal. Ford will not be reelected to office due this pardon.

14. President Ford 1974 - 1977 Helsinki Accords - August 1, 1975.
- 35 nations signed
- Agreement with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev which
supported human rights.
The agreement recognized the inherent relationship between respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the attainment of genuine peace and security.
- Soviets actions towards descendants
- Restriction of Jews immigrating
Helsinki, Finland

15. President Carter
Wanted to continue human rights and détente goals.

16. Carter
SALTII
Pledge between the US and Soviet Union which limited nuclear arms production.

17. Carter and Afghanistan
Congress did not support SALTII Treaty for fear of lost national security.
1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan forced Carter to withdraw SALTII and place sanctions on Soviet Union.
Sanctions included boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and suspension of grain sales to the Soviet Union.
Soviet Invasion
Mujahideen

18. Carter and Middle East Camp David Accords
Bitter war between Egypt and Israel since 1948
Carter invited Anwar el-Sadat from Egypt and Menachem Begin from Israel to Camp David for a two week diplomatic negociations.
Menachem Begin
Anwar el-Sadat

19. Camp David Accords

20. Carter and Camp David Accords
Peace treaty:
1. Israeli troops withdrawn from Sinai Pennisula
2. Egypt would recognize Israel as a country marking the first Arab nation to establish peace.

21. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis:
Mohammed Mossadegh
Iranian Hostage Crisis:
1953 CIA worked to overthrow Mohammed Mossadegh and reinstated Mohammed Reza Pahlavi as Iran’s shah or Monarchy.
In exchange for US economic and military aid to Iran the US would receive a continuous supply of oil.
Mohammed Reza Pahalavi and wife Queen Soraya

22. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
The Shah promised the Iranian’s increased personal freedoms and social reforms but did not follow through
As the Shah became more wealthy, his lifestyle became more Western and this upset many Iranians

23. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
January 1979 the Shah was forced to abdicate the throne and a new ruler Ayatollah Khomeini took over
Khomeini rallied against the US calling the American government the “Great Satan” and “Enemy of Islam”

24. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
The Shah needed medical treatment for cancer and was allowed entrance into the US for treatment.
In response to this on November 4th 1979, radical Iranian students stormed the American Embassy in Teheran.

25. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
The US responded by canceling oil imports from Iran, expelled Iranians from the US, and froze $8 billion Iranian assets in the US.

26. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
Ayatollah Khomeini issued a list of demands in exchange for the hostages
Shah return to Iran
Apology from US for involvement in Iran
Promise to stay out of Iranian affairs

27. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
Carter’s response:
Secret mission to rescue the 52 hostages
called Operation Eagle Claw
- Eight helicopters were sent into the desert; two turned back immediately due to sand storms. The remaining six also had to abort the mission.

28. Desert One was the rendevous for the Helicopters and C-130.
It was decided to turn back at Desert One.

29. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
When taking off from Desert One a C-130 and helicopter collided and exploded
The Iranians televised the wreckage
Seven of the charred bodies were paraded through the streets of Tehran in protest.

30. Carter Iranian Hostage Crisis
Carter will lose the election to Reagan as a result of the hostage crisis and inability to rescue the hostages.
Hostages will be released 444 days later after Reagan won the Presidential election

31. President Reagan 1981 – 1989 Did not support Détente
Wanted to force the Soviets back into Eastern Europe
Believed US needed to build up military and missiles to defeat Soviets through numbers and prestige
Reagan’s foreign policy often focused on traditional Cold War issues.

32. Reagan “Star Wars” Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI)
Use of lasers to strike down missiles prior to reaching their strike zone.

33. Reagan 1985 Mikhail Gorbachev became President of the Soviet Union
Used policy of Glasnost and Perestroika:
Glosnost meant a “new Openness”
Perestroika was a movement away from a socialist or state controlled economy.
Created a movement toward better relations.

34. Reagan and Afghanistan
Weaken Soviets by supporting anti-communists attempts
US funded and supported the Mujahadeen (Freedom Fighters), anti-Soviet rebels in Afghanistan
Soviets leave Afghanistan in 1989

35. Reagan Iran – Contra Affair
Nicaragua government, the Sandinistas, were providing Soviet refuge
US back the Contras who were anti-communists
US sold weapons to Iran and used the money to fund the Contras
Congress did not approve of the money support

36. Reagan The Cold War Ends
Nov 1989 Berlin Wall Fell
1989 – 1990 All Soviet Satellite nations become democracies
1991 Soviet Union broke into 15 independent republics under the Boris Yeltsin as president.

38. George H. W. Bush
1992 Bush and Yeltsin meet and issue a joint statement pledging friendship and cooperation as well as agree to scale down and eliminate certain types of nuclear weapons. (START1)