DetenteDetente

Walking away from Walking away from brinksmanship from LBJ to brinksmanship from LBJ to

Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter

JohnsonJohnson

►Soviets – major supplier of arms to Soviets – major supplier of arms to North VietnamNorth Vietnam

►LBJ sees Soviets as a military LBJ sees Soviets as a military superpower, but needy economicallysuperpower, but needy economically

►Proposal that goes no where: USSR Proposal that goes no where: USSR stops flow of arms and pressures Ho to stops flow of arms and pressures Ho to settle – USSR sends more arms-states settle – USSR sends more arms-states NV is an important communist ally.NV is an important communist ally.

LBJ ContinuedLBJ Continued

►Prague spring. 1968 - crackdownPrague spring. 1968 - crackdown►Brezhnev Doctrine: any socialist nation Brezhnev Doctrine: any socialist nation

has a responsibility to intervene when has a responsibility to intervene when another socialist nation is threatened, another socialist nation is threatened, same as US in LAsame as US in LA

►Brezhnev: conditions of ideological Brezhnev: conditions of ideological war, crackdown on dissidentswar, crackdown on dissidents

NixonNixon

►Vietnamization – changing color of Vietnamization – changing color of corpses – failure despite 1 ton bombs corpses – failure despite 1 ton bombs for every minute Nixon in officefor every minute Nixon in office

►Nixon Doctrine: as US pulls back from Nixon Doctrine: as US pulls back from military commitments Americans military commitments Americans would help friends with containment – would help friends with containment – Asia (Japan), M.E. (Iran), Africa (Zaire, Asia (Japan), M.E. (Iran), Africa (Zaire, Angola, South Africa.Angola, South Africa.

Nixon continuedNixon continued

►Arms sales up 500% to $10 billion by Arms sales up 500% to $10 billion by end of Nixon Administrationend of Nixon Administration

► Shah of Iran ordered planes like “going Shah of Iran ordered planes like “going through a Sears-Roebuck catalog” through a Sears-Roebuck catalog”

►Raised oil prices to pay for armsRaised oil prices to pay for arms►Nixon bedfellow of racist regimes in Nixon bedfellow of racist regimes in

AfricaAfrica►American economy went downhillAmerican economy went downhill► Japanese economic riseJapanese economic rise

Nixon 1971-2Nixon 1971-2

►China- Mao and Nixon both feared USSRChina- Mao and Nixon both feared USSR►China – opening up markets for some US China – opening up markets for some US

businessesbusinesses►Nixon announces he will be 1Nixon announces he will be 1stst Prez to Prez to

visit China 1972visit China 1972►Nixon visits Moscow 1972Nixon visits Moscow 1972►Great Grain robbery: USSR out Great Grain robbery: USSR out

negotiates USAnegotiates USA

Nixon 1972Nixon 1972

►Salt I – end to development of ABMs Salt I – end to development of ABMs (US withdraws 2001); froze total # of (US withdraws 2001); froze total # of nuclear missiles (USSR 1600, US 1054)nuclear missiles (USSR 1600, US 1054)

►W/mirvs US possessed a 2-1 lead in W/mirvs US possessed a 2-1 lead in deliverable warheadsdeliverable warheads

►Nixon reelected in landslide “peace is Nixon reelected in landslide “peace is at hand.”at hand.”

Nixon 1973Nixon 1973

►Vietnam peace treaty Feb 1973Vietnam peace treaty Feb 1973►Overthrow Allende in Chile Overthrow Allende in Chile

(September)(September)►Yom Kippur War: Soviets/E-S-J, Yom Kippur War: Soviets/E-S-J,

US/IsrealUS/Isreal►Oil Crisis (US only imported 12% from Oil Crisis (US only imported 12% from

ME)ME)

FordFord

►1974- little changed from Nixon1974- little changed from Nixon►Kissinger still NSAKissinger still NSA►S. Vietnam falls 1975 after US cuts aid S. Vietnam falls 1975 after US cuts aid

and (K) denies Nixon’s secret promise of and (K) denies Nixon’s secret promise of full force. full force.

►Ford & K to USSR 1974, agree SALT II.Ford & K to USSR 1974, agree SALT II.►Angola falls to Soviet-backed side.Angola falls to Soviet-backed side.►Mayaguez seized by North Koreans Mayaguez seized by North Koreans

(1976)(1976)

Nixon and KissingerNixon and Kissinger

►Kissinger and Nixon ran foreign policy Kissinger and Nixon ran foreign policy in secret by themselves. Kissinger’s in secret by themselves. Kissinger’s staff referred to as “mushrooms.” staff referred to as “mushrooms.” “Kept in dark, get a lot of manure piled “Kept in dark, get a lot of manure piled on them, and then get canned.”on them, and then get canned.”

►Chose Sec of State William Rogers Chose Sec of State William Rogers because he knew nothing about because he knew nothing about foreign policyforeign policy

Carter (1977-Jan 1981)Carter (1977-Jan 1981)

►Confusion at first – clash between state/NSAConfusion at first – clash between state/NSA►1977 encourages Russian dissidents, 1977 encourages Russian dissidents,

angering Brezhnev, who cracks downangering Brezhnev, who cracks down►Reduced aid to Brazil, Chile, Argentina did Reduced aid to Brazil, Chile, Argentina did

get better human rights in those countriesget better human rights in those countries►1977 Dec Carter visits Iran, toasts shah1977 Dec Carter visits Iran, toasts shah►Canal zone treatyCanal zone treaty►OPEC oil prices up to $35 barrelOPEC oil prices up to $35 barrel

Carter 2Carter 2

►US, no effective response to OPEC, US, no effective response to OPEC, recession sets inrecession sets in

► In Africa US steps back and supports In Africa US steps back and supports nationalism – Soviets press on and are nationalism – Soviets press on and are kicked out of Somalia & Sudan, and kicked out of Somalia & Sudan, and have big trouble in Ethiopia.have big trouble in Ethiopia.

►1978 Camp David accords, but Soviets 1978 Camp David accords, but Soviets rush arms to Syriarush arms to Syria

Carter 3Carter 3

►May 1978 NSA Brzezinski visits China, May 1978 NSA Brzezinski visits China, diplomatic relations established Jan 1, diplomatic relations established Jan 1, 19791979

►US exports to China doubles, Coke opens US exports to China doubles, Coke opens plant in Chinaplant in China

►SALT II (w/USSR) delayed, then signedSALT II (w/USSR) delayed, then signed►Soviet economy fadingSoviet economy fading►Feared “capitalist encirclement”Feared “capitalist encirclement”► Iran CrisisIran Crisis

Carter 4Carter 4

►USSR and US start large military buildup. USSR and US start large military buildup. ►US Bases built in Persian Gulf areaUS Bases built in Persian Gulf area►Carter authorizes Rapid Deployment Carter authorizes Rapid Deployment

ForceForce►USSR invades Afganistan Dec 1979, US USSR invades Afganistan Dec 1979, US

helps supply Afganshelps supply Afgans►Carter Doctrine: US will intervene if USSR Carter Doctrine: US will intervene if USSR

threatens interests in Persian Gulfthreatens interests in Persian Gulf►US/USSR turn back to 1950 rivalryUS/USSR turn back to 1950 rivalry

Reagan 1981-1989Reagan 1981-1989

►Rise of neoconservativismRise of neoconservativism►USSR = Evil Empire (Reagan Doctrine)USSR = Evil Empire (Reagan Doctrine)►1982 Reagan refuses Brezhnev’s 1982 Reagan refuses Brezhnev’s

request for arms control talks, instead request for arms control talks, instead calls USSR imperialistcalls USSR imperialist

►Reagan ran on large arms buildup to Reagan ran on large arms buildup to assume #1 … Carter had built up nukes, assume #1 … Carter had built up nukes, introduced MIRVs (R & C similar introduced MIRVs (R & C similar programs)programs)

Reagan 2Reagan 2

►Reagan’s plan to push USSR into the Reagan’s plan to push USSR into the “asheap of history” more talk than action“asheap of history” more talk than action

►US “God’s Chosen People” “divine plan”US “God’s Chosen People” “divine plan”►First 5 years policy consisted of military First 5 years policy consisted of military

buildup ($1.6 trillion compared w/Carter’s buildup ($1.6 trillion compared w/Carter’s $1.2)$1.2)

►Ability to fight 3.5 wars simultaneouslyAbility to fight 3.5 wars simultaneously►Reagan decides to abide by SALT IIReagan decides to abide by SALT II

Reagan 3Reagan 3

►Words from administration that nuclear Words from administration that nuclear war was survivable (mail could be war was survivable (mail could be delivered)delivered)

►Reagan lifts grain embargo to USSRReagan lifts grain embargo to USSR►Poland crackdown on dissidents – US Poland crackdown on dissidents – US

sanctions, but more grain sold to USSR sanctions, but more grain sold to USSR (inconsistent)(inconsistent)

►Western Europe helps USSR economicallyWestern Europe helps USSR economically►Reagan forbade Euro nations to supply Reagan forbade Euro nations to supply

USSR w/ US licensed technologyUSSR w/ US licensed technology

Reagan 4Reagan 4

►Reagan went through 5 NSA’s before Reagan went through 5 NSA’s before Colin PowellColin Powell

►US support “capitalist authoritarian” US support “capitalist authoritarian” regimes oppose “communist totalitarian” regimes oppose “communist totalitarian” regimesregimes

►1985 Reagan Doctrine: nourish and 1985 Reagan Doctrine: nourish and defend freedom and democracydefend freedom and democracy

►Oct 1983 US Army bombed in BeruitOct 1983 US Army bombed in Beruit►Oct 1983 Greneda invasionOct 1983 Greneda invasion

Reagan 5Reagan 5

►1981 US downs two Libyan fighters in 1981 US downs two Libyan fighters in disputed territorial watersdisputed territorial waters

►April 1986 Reagan orders assassination of April 1986 Reagan orders assassination of Quaddafi (kills daughter) in response to Quaddafi (kills daughter) in response to false accusation of West Berlin bombingfalse accusation of West Berlin bombing

►Reagan extremely popular (new Reagan extremely popular (new patriotism) and reelected landslide in 1984patriotism) and reelected landslide in 1984

►US supported dictators failed in Haiti, US supported dictators failed in Haiti, Philippines, S. Africa maintains apartheidPhilippines, S. Africa maintains apartheid

Reagan 6Reagan 6

► Central America, policies fail Nicaragua Central America, policies fail Nicaragua (contras trained by CIA in violation of US law), (contras trained by CIA in violation of US law), 1983 CIA mines harbor and takes over 1983 CIA mines harbor and takes over operations. Economic sanctions more operations. Economic sanctions more effective. Sandinistas out 1990.effective. Sandinistas out 1990.

► El Salvador Reagan to destroy FMLN, CIA El Salvador Reagan to destroy FMLN, CIA heavily involved. Economy a mess. US heavily involved. Economy a mess. US supplied military massacres 6 priests, 2 supplied military massacres 6 priests, 2 women, US blames FMLN insteadwomen, US blames FMLN instead

► Noriega seizes power in Panama, supported Noriega seizes power in Panama, supported by Regan/Bush who ignores drug-running and by Regan/Bush who ignores drug-running and sent millions for fight against contrassent millions for fight against contras

ReaganReagan 77

►Attempt to overthrow Noriega fails in Attempt to overthrow Noriega fails in 1987-881987-88

►1984 Iran seizes US hostages including 1984 Iran seizes US hostages including CIA agents (Iran contra affair – US arms to CIA agents (Iran contra affair – US arms to Iraq and funds from arms sales to contras Iraq and funds from arms sales to contras in violation of Boland amendmentin violation of Boland amendment

►Huge US debt $1 trillion, US slid from Huge US debt $1 trillion, US slid from world’s leading creditor to largest debtorworld’s leading creditor to largest debtor

Reagan 8Reagan 8

►US and USSR spent trillions for defense US and USSR spent trillions for defense during Cold War, hurting economies, during Cold War, hurting economies, USSR more than USUSSR more than US

►Brezhnev dies 1982, followed by Brezhnev dies 1982, followed by Andropov, Chernenko (repression Andropov, Chernenko (repression increased in USSR).increased in USSR).

USSR GorbyUSSR Gorby

►1985 Gorbachev takes power, new 1985 Gorbachev takes power, new generation… reformer in Khrushchev generation… reformer in Khrushchev traditiontradition

►Economic reforms not working USSR Economic reforms not working USSR 1988 scarcity of food1988 scarcity of food

►1989 coal workers go on strike1989 coal workers go on strike►Openness leads to decentralization and Openness leads to decentralization and

in 1990 Communist party gives up powerin 1990 Communist party gives up power►More western style presidencyMore western style presidency

Gorby 2Gorby 2

►Nov 1985 Gorby presses Reagan to talks on Nov 1985 Gorby presses Reagan to talks on Geneva, they meet again in Reykjavik Oct 1986Geneva, they meet again in Reykjavik Oct 1986

► Agree to eliminate all intermediate missiles in Agree to eliminate all intermediate missiles in Europe and nearly agree to eliminate all other Europe and nearly agree to eliminate all other nuke missiles-Reagan refuses to give up Star nuke missiles-Reagan refuses to give up Star Wars.Wars.

► 1987 Gorby to D.C. and signs treaty eliminating 1987 Gorby to D.C. and signs treaty eliminating medium and short range intermediate missiles.medium and short range intermediate missiles.

►Gorby pulls many troops out of E. Europe Dec Gorby pulls many troops out of E. Europe Dec 1988, allows jews to leave USSR1988, allows jews to leave USSR

Gorby 3Gorby 3

►““It is inadmissible and futile to It is inadmissible and futile to encourage revolution from abroad.”encourage revolution from abroad.”

►Pulls troops out of Afganistan 1989Pulls troops out of Afganistan 1989►Visits China Visits China ►Strengthens relations with W. Europe, Strengthens relations with W. Europe,

India, Argentina and Mexico… trying to India, Argentina and Mexico… trying to compete with US peacefullycompete with US peacefully