1. Cartoons of the Day

2. The Cold War: Military, Reagan & Gorbachev, and Collapse of the Soviet Union

3. AMERICA’S MILITARY DURING THE COLD WAR
In Pres. John F. Kennedy’s INAUGURAL ADDRESS, he pledged that the United States would
“PAY ANY PRICE, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty”

4. A STRONG military was key to America’s success in the Cold War
During the Cold War, MILLIONS of Americans served in the military, defending freedom in wars and conflicts that were NOT ALWAYS POPULAR. Many were killed or wounded.

5. Conflict
Number serving
Total deaths
Battle deaths
Other deaths
Wounded
KOREAN
WAR
5,720,000
36,574
33,739
2,835
103,284
VIETNAMWAR
8,744,000
58,220
47,434
10,786
303,644
Persian Gulf War
2,225,000
383
147
235
467

6. As a result of their service, the UNITED STATES and American IDEALS of democracy and freedom ultimately PREVAILED in the Cold War struggle with Soviet communism

7. VETERANS OF THE COLD WAR
UNLIKE WWII veterans (who returned to a grateful, supportive nation), VIETNAM VETERANS returned often to face INDIFFERENCE or outright HOSTILITY
It was not until SEVERAL YEARS AFTER the war ended that the wounds of the war began to HEAL in America, and Vietnam veterans were RECOGNIZED for their service and sacrifice

8. HOMELESS VETERANS 8.2 MILLION Vietnam-era veterans
429,000 veterans served in BOTH the Korean and Vietnam conflicts
VETERANS AFFAIRS estimates that approx. 107,000 veterans are HOMELESS on any given night
Nearly HALF of homeless veterans served during the VIETNAM ERA. Two-thirds served our country for at least THREE YEARS, and one-third were stationed in a WAR ZONE.

10. Nixon and Foreign Policy
Richard M. Nixon elected president in 1968
Nixon’s greatest achievements as President occurred in FOREIGN POLICY
CREATIVE approach to foreign affairs helped ease Cold War TENSIONS
Relied heavily on Secretary of State HENRY KISSINGER

11. Nixon and Kissinger brought about DÉTENTE (a RELAXATION in tensions) between the UNITED STATES and the world’s two Communist GIANTS – CHINA and the SOVIET UNION.

12. IMPROVED relationship with China
LIFTED restrictions on travel to China
ENDED trade embargo
Nixon was FIRST PRESIDENT to visit China (1972)

13. IMPROVED relationship with Soviet Union
Nixon VISITED Soviet Union in 1972, met with Soviet premier
Completed negotiations on SALT I (STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS TALKS) – froze the number of missiles at 1972 levels

14. Ford and Carter
After Nixon RESIGNED on August 9, 1974, GERALD R. FORD became president
Ford PARDONED Nixon for all offenses (SPARED HIM from further punishment)

15. 1976 election won by JIMMY CARTER
Former PEANUT FARMER, GOVERNOR of Georgia, NO national political experience
Carter faced several issues during his presidency, including:
Unstable ECONOMY
BOYCOTT of 1980 Olympics in Moscow
IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS

16. REAGAN & GORBACHEV Reagan elected president in 1980
Former HOLLYWOOD ACTOR
GOVERNOR of California when elected
OLDEST man to serve as President

17. Reagan believed in a tough approach toward the Soviet Union (the “EVIL EMPIRE”)
Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP
STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE  proposed creation of massive satellite shield in space (nicknamed “Star Wars”)

18. Reagan INCREASED U.S. military and economic PRESSURE on the Soviet Union
CHALLENGED moral legitimacy of the Soviet Union  example: SPEECH AT BERLIN WALL
Despite fierce anti-Communist attitude, Reagan developed CLOSE FRIENDSHIP with Soviet leader Mikhail GORBACHEV

19. Gorbachev’s policies
To reform ailing Soviet system, Gorbachev instituted GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA
Glasnost: means “POLITICAL OPENESS” (freedom of speech)
Perestroika: means “RESTRUCTURING”, an economic policy to allow LIMITED free enterprise (capitalism)

20. END OF THE SOVIET UNION: REASONS FOR COLLAPSE
INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES to compete with the United States
Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet republics

21. Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy)
Economic INEFFICIENCY
Policies of GLASNOST and PERESTROIKA = opening up of the political system

22. Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union Dissolves
NOVEMBER 9, 1989 – Berlin Wall comes down

24. Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the presidency of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union was DISSOLVED by the next week
Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE ALLIANCE of former Soviet republics called the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATES

25. Reagan at Brandenburg Gate