The Cold War Under Nixon, Ford, and Carter

Nixon’s Vietnam Policy  Paris peace talks began in May 1968, but didn’t reach an agreement until January  Nixon began the policy of Vietnamization, replacing U.S. troops with South Vietnamese soldiers.  Nixon appealed to “the silent majority” who quietly supported his policies.  Kent State University (May 4, 1970) – Student protest against Nixon’s war policies turned violent.  When the Pentagon Papers were leaked to the American public in 1971, they revealed several facts of the war that had been previously kept secret – including the expansion of bombing raids in Laos and Cambodia.

Aftermath of the War  After American forces withdrew (1973), South Vietnam surrendered & Vietnam became unified under the Communists in  Approximately 3,000 of American soldiers were listed as POWs or MIAs (or “body not recovered”) & some remain unaccounted for.

Henry Kissinger  Kissinger applied a realpolitik approach to his foreign policy actions.  Nixon & Kissinger’s greatest accomplishment was in bringing about détente, a relaxation in tensions between the U.S. & Communist China & USSR.

A New Approach to China  Kissinger saw that the relationship between China and the USSR was deteriorating.  In October 1971, Nixon’s administration recognized Communist China.  In February 1972, Nixon became the first American President to visit China.

Limiting Nuclear Arms  The U.S. & the Soviet Union signed the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, known as SALT I in  While this agreement didn’t get rid of the stockpile of nuclear weapons that had built up, it did attempt to establish a balance between the two nations and proved that arms negotiations were possible.

Foreign Policy–Southeast Asia  Ford asked for military aid to help South Vietnam in spring  Congress was prepared to invoke the War Powers Act to keep the President from taking action without a formal declaration of war from Congress.

Foreign Policy - Asia, Europe, and Africa  Asia —Continued friendship with China & was the 1 st President to visit Japan.  Europe — Signed the Helsinki Accords (1975), agreements on European security which settled border disputes and continued the easing of Cold War tensions.  Soviet Union – Continued Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union.  Africa — Developed relationships with newly independent African countries.

Carter’s Foreign Policy  Carter’s 1978 meeting with Egyptian & Israeli leaders resulted in the Camp David Accords, which created a framework for peace in the Middle East and improved U.S. relations with both nations.  Soviets were angered by Carter’s support of Soviet dissidents, those who criticized their government.  Carter signed the SALT II treaty. Though it was never ratified, but both nations followed its terms.  Carter also pardoned those who had fled to Canada to avoid the draft.

Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan  The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in  To show American disapproval, Carter boycotted the 1980 summer Olympic Games in Moscow.

The Iran Hostage Crisis  In January 1979, a revolution in Iran replaced the pro-American shah with Ayatollah Khomeini, an anti-Western leader.  When Carter allowed the displaced shah to enter the U.S. to seek medical treatment, angry Khomeini followers seized the American embassy in Tehran.  Fifty-two Americans were taken hostage for 444 days. Carter’s inability to resolve the hostage crisis would be a major deciding factor in the 1980 election.  Although the hostage crisis is not directly related to the Cold War, Iran opens negotiations with the U.S. for the hostages’ release partially as a response to fear of Soviet aggression following the invasion of their neighbor, Afghanistan.