Aim: Trace the Origins of Détente and its Effects on the Cold War

Brinkmanship Breaks Down 1970’s: US & the Soviet Union backed away from the policies of brinkmanship Superpowers slowly moved to lower tensions Brinkmanship policy followed during the presidencies of Eisenhower, Kennedy, & Johnson Led to one crisis after another Crisis united by common fear of nuclear war During administration of JFK, Cuban Missile Crisis made use of nuclear weapons a real possibility After assassination of Kennedy in 63, Pres. Johnson committed to stopping spread of Communism Escalated US involvement in war in Vietnam 2

The United States Turns to Detente The US backed away from its policy of direct confrontation with the Soviet Union Détente, a policy of lessening Cold War tensions, replaced brinkmanship under Pres. Nixon Nixon’s move toward détente grew out of philosophy known as realpolitik Mean’s “realistic politics” Meant dealing with other nations in a practical & flexible manner The two superpowers agreed to pursue détente & to reduce tensions 3

Nixon Visits Communist Powers Nixon’s new policy represented a reversal & political shift for the country Nixon became the first US president to visit Communist China Feb 1972: Nixon visited the Soviet Union Held a series of meetings called the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) Nixon & Brezhnev signed the SALT I TREATY 5 year agreement limited to 1972 levels the number of intercontinental ballistic & submarine-launched missiles each country could have 4