Richard Nixon:Richard Nixon:Foreign PolicyForeign Policy

In OfficeIn Office

Richard Nixon Richard Nixon elected in 1968elected in 1968

Elected on the Elected on the platform to win the platform to win the Vietnam War “with Vietnam War “with honor”honor”

By 1973, all US By 1973, all US troops had been troops had been withdrawn from withdrawn from VietnamVietnam

Détente with the Détente with the CommunistsCommunists

Nixon initiated a policy of détente Nixon initiated a policy of détente with the USSR and Chinawith the USSR and China

This meant a lessening of tensions This meant a lessening of tensions between the powersbetween the powers

Nixon also sought to repair relations Nixon also sought to repair relations with both China and the Soviet with both China and the Soviet UnionUnion

RealpolitikRealpolitik Balance of power Balance of power

between Japan, US, between Japan, US, China, USSR and China, USSR and West EuropeWest Europe

Idea that nations Idea that nations should use national should use national interest instead of interest instead of political ideals political ideals

Nixon and NSA Nixon and NSA Kissinger sought Kissinger sought détente to ensure détente to ensure this balance of powerthis balance of power

Opening the Door to Opening the Door to ChinaChina

China became China became communist in 1949 communist in 1949 under the leadership under the leadership of Mao Zedongof Mao Zedong

US did not recognize US did not recognize the communist the communist Chinese government, Chinese government, imposed a trade imposed a trade embargo, and refused embargo, and refused China entrance into China entrance into the United Nationsthe United Nations

Opening the Door to Opening the Door to ChinaChina

Nixon eased tensions Nixon eased tensions between the US and between the US and China by lifting the China by lifting the trade embargo in trade embargo in 19711971

China was admitted China was admitted into the United into the United Nations that same Nations that same yearyear

In Feb. 1972 Nixon In Feb. 1972 Nixon traveled to China and traveled to China and re-established ties re-established ties

A Friendly Game?A Friendly Game?

In April 1971, the In April 1971, the Chinese government Chinese government extended a diplomatic extended a diplomatic invitation to a US invitation to a US table tennis teamtable tennis team

This week-long visit This week-long visit marked the beginning marked the beginning of the Chinese-of the Chinese-American era of American era of “ping-pong “ping-pong diplomacy”diplomacy”

Thawing the Cold WarThawing the Cold War In 1972, Nixon visited In 1972, Nixon visited

Moscow and met with Moscow and met with Soviet leader Leonid Soviet leader Leonid BrezhnevBrezhnev

Both leaders agreed Both leaders agreed to trade negotiations to trade negotiations and technological and technological exchangesexchanges

SALT (Strategic Arms SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) Limitation Talks)

SALT AgreementSALT Agreement

Limited the number of missile-Limited the number of missile-defense systems in both the US and defense systems in both the US and USSRUSSR

Allowed additional weapons only if Allowed additional weapons only if others were dismantledothers were dismantled

Eased tensions between the US and Eased tensions between the US and Soviet Union and slowed the nuclear Soviet Union and slowed the nuclear arms racearms race