Cartoons of the DayCartoons of the Day

The Cold War: Military, The Cold War: Military, Reagan & Gorbachev, and Reagan & Gorbachev, and

Collapse of the Soviet UnionCollapse of the Soviet Union

AMERICA’S MILITARY DURING AMERICA’S MILITARY DURING THE COLD WARTHE COLD WAR

In Pres. John F. Kennedy’s In Pres. John F. Kennedy’s INAUGURAL ADDRESS, he INAUGURAL ADDRESS, he pledged that the United States pledged that the United States wouldwould

““PAY ANY PRICE, bear any PAY ANY PRICE, bear any burden, meet any hardship, burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of survival and the success of libertyliberty””

A STRONG military was key to America’s A STRONG military was key to America’s success in the Cold Warsuccess in the Cold War

During the Cold War, MILLIONS of During the Cold War, MILLIONS of Americans served in the military, Americans served in the military, defending freedom in defending freedom in wars and conflicts wars and conflicts that were NOT ALWAYS that were NOT ALWAYS POPULAR. Many POPULAR. Many were killed or were killed or wounded.wounded.

Conflict Number serving

Total deaths

Battle deaths

Other deaths

Wounded

KOREANKOREAN

WARWAR

5,720,0005,720,000 36,57436,574 33,73933,739 2,8352,835 103,284103,284

VIETNAMVIETNAMWARWAR

8,744,0008,744,000 58,22058,220 47,43447,434 10,78610,786 303,644303,644

Persian Persian Gulf WarGulf War

2,225,0002,225,000 383383 147147 235235 467467

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

VETERANS OF THE COLD WARVETERANS OF THE COLD WAR

UNLIKE WWII veterans (who returned to a UNLIKE WWII veterans (who returned to a grateful, supportive nation), VIETNAM grateful, supportive nation), VIETNAM VETERANS returned often to face VETERANS returned often to face INDIFFERENCE or outright HOSTILITYINDIFFERENCE or outright HOSTILITY

It was not until SEVERAL YEARS AFTER It was not until SEVERAL YEARS AFTER the war ended that the wounds of the war the war ended that the wounds of the war began to HEAL in America, and Vietnam began to HEAL in America, and Vietnam veterans were RECOGNIZED for their veterans were RECOGNIZED for their service and sacrificeservice and sacrifice

HOMELESS VETERANSHOMELESS VETERANS

8.2 MILLION Vietnam-era veterans8.2 MILLION Vietnam-era veterans 429,000 veterans served in BOTH the Korean 429,000 veterans served in BOTH the Korean

and Vietnam conflictsand Vietnam conflicts VETERANS AFFAIRS estimates that approx. VETERANS AFFAIRS estimates that approx.

107,000 veterans are HOMELESS on any given 107,000 veterans are HOMELESS on any given nightnight

Nearly HALF of homeless veterans served Nearly HALF of homeless veterans served during the VIETNAM ERA. Two-thirds served during the VIETNAM ERA. Two-thirds served our country for at least THREE YEARS, and our country for at least THREE YEARS, and one-third were stationed in a WAR ZONE. one-third were stationed in a WAR ZONE.

Nixon and Foreign PolicyNixon and Foreign Policy Richard M. Nixon elected president in Richard M. Nixon elected president in

19681968 Nixon’s greatest achievements as Nixon’s greatest achievements as

President occurred in FOREIGN POLICYPresident occurred in FOREIGN POLICY CREATIVE approach to foreign affairs helped CREATIVE approach to foreign affairs helped

ease Cold War TENSIONSease Cold War TENSIONS Relied heavily on Secretary Relied heavily on Secretary

of State HENRY of State HENRY KISSINGERKISSINGER

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

IMPROVED IMPROVED relationship with relationship with ChinaChina LIFTED restrictions LIFTED restrictions

on travel to Chinaon travel to China ENDED trade ENDED trade

embargoembargo Nixon was FIRST Nixon was FIRST

PRESIDENT to visit PRESIDENT to visit China (1972)China (1972)

IMPROVED relationship with Soviet UnionIMPROVED relationship with Soviet Union Nixon VISITED Soviet Union in 1972, met with Nixon VISITED Soviet Union in 1972, met with

Soviet premierSoviet premier Completed negotiations on SALT I Completed negotiations on SALT I

(STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS TALKS) – (STRATEGIC ARMS LIMITATIONS TALKS) – froze the number of missiles at 1972 levelsfroze the number of missiles at 1972 levels

Ford and CarterFord and Carter After Nixon RESIGNED on August 9, After Nixon RESIGNED on August 9,

1974, GERALD R. FORD became 1974, GERALD R. FORD became presidentpresident

Ford PARDONED Nixon for all offenses Ford PARDONED Nixon for all offenses (SPARED HIM from further punishment)(SPARED HIM from further punishment)

1976 election won by 1976 election won by JIMMY CARTERJIMMY CARTER Former PEANUT Former PEANUT

FARMER, GOVERNOR FARMER, GOVERNOR of Georgia, NO national of Georgia, NO national political experiencepolitical experience

Carter faced several Carter faced several issues during his issues during his presidency, including:presidency, including: Unstable ECONOMYUnstable ECONOMY BOYCOTT of 1980 BOYCOTT of 1980

Olympics in MoscowOlympics in Moscow IRAN HOSTAGE CRISISIRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS

REAGAN & GORBACHEVREAGAN & GORBACHEV

Reagan elected Reagan elected president in 1980president in 1980 Former HOLLYWOOD Former HOLLYWOOD

ACTORACTOR GOVERNOR of GOVERNOR of

California when California when electedelected

OLDEST man to serve OLDEST man to serve as Presidentas President

Reagan believed in a tough approach Reagan believed in a tough approach toward the Soviet Union (the “EVIL toward the Soviet Union (the “EVIL EMPIRE”)EMPIRE”) Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP Very costly MILITARY BUILDUP STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE STRATEGIC DEFENSE INITIATIVE

proposed creation of massive satellite shield proposed creation of massive satellite shield in space (nicknamed “Star Wars”)in space (nicknamed “Star Wars”)

Reagan INCREASED U.S. Reagan INCREASED U.S. military and economic military and economic PRESSURE on the Soviet PRESSURE on the Soviet UnionUnion

CHALLENGED moral CHALLENGED moral legitimacy of the Soviet legitimacy of the Soviet Union Union example: SPEECH example: SPEECH AT BERLIN WALLAT BERLIN WALL

Despite fierce anti-Despite fierce anti-Communist attitude, Reagan Communist attitude, Reagan developed CLOSE developed CLOSE FRIENDSHIP with Soviet FRIENDSHIP with Soviet leader Mikhail GORBACHEVleader Mikhail GORBACHEV

Gorbachev’s policiesGorbachev’s policies To reform ailing Soviet system, To reform ailing Soviet system,

Gorbachev instituted Gorbachev instituted GLASNOST GLASNOST and and PERESTROIKAPERESTROIKA

Glasnost: Glasnost: means “POLITICAL means “POLITICAL OPENESS” (freedom of speech)OPENESS” (freedom of speech)

PerestroikaPerestroika: means : means “RESTRUCTURING”, an “RESTRUCTURING”, an economic policy to allow economic policy to allow LIMITED free enterprise LIMITED free enterprise (capitalism)(capitalism)

END OF THE SOVIET UNION: END OF THE SOVIET UNION: REASONS FOR COLLAPSEREASONS FOR COLLAPSE

INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES INCREASING Soviet military EXPENSES to compete with the United Statesto compete with the United States

Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet Rising NATIONALISM in the Soviet republicsrepublics

Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy)Fast-paced REFORMS (market economy) Economic INEFFICIENCYEconomic INEFFICIENCY Policies of GLASNOST and Policies of GLASNOST and

PERESTROIKA = opening up of the PERESTROIKA = opening up of the political systempolitical system

Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union Fall of Berlin Wall, Soviet Union DissolvesDissolves

NOVEMBER 9, 1989 – Berlin Wall comes NOVEMBER 9, 1989 – Berlin Wall comes downdown

Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the Mikhail GORBACHEV RESIGNED the presidency of the Soviet Union on December presidency of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union was 25, 1991 and the Soviet Union was DISSOLVED by the next weekDISSOLVED by the next week

Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE Soviet Union was REPLACED by a LOOSE ALLIANCE of former Soviet republics called ALLIANCE of former Soviet republics called the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT the COMMONWEALTH OF INDEPENDENT STATESSTATES

Reagan at Brandenburg GateReagan at Brandenburg Gate