AIMAIM: WHAT NEW : WHAT NEW DIRECTIONS WERE DIRECTIONS WERE TAKEN IN FOREIGN TAKEN IN FOREIGN

AFFAIRS UNDER AFFAIRS UNDER PRESIDENT NIXON?PRESIDENT NIXON?

Richard M. NixonRichard M. Nixon

4. Nixon and Foreign Affairs4. Nixon and Foreign AffairsNixon, as President, inherited the Nixon, as President, inherited the

problems of his predecessors, Johnson problems of his predecessors, Johnson and Kennedy left him….Vietnam.and Kennedy left him….Vietnam.

Besides Vietnam, troubles brewed again Besides Vietnam, troubles brewed again in the Middle East, another foreign policy in the Middle East, another foreign policy headache for the Nixon administration.headache for the Nixon administration.

Nixon also made attempts at improving Nixon also made attempts at improving relations between the US and China and relations between the US and China and US and the Soviet Union.US and the Soviet Union.

4.1 War In Vietnam4.1 War In VietnamDuring the campaign, Nixon made During the campaign, Nixon made

promises to get the United States out of promises to get the United States out of the Vietnam War.the Vietnam War.

One of Nixon’s promises was “peace with One of Nixon’s promises was “peace with honor”. honor”.

For support, Nixon called on his base, “the For support, Nixon called on his base, “the silent majority”, for support. The base silent majority”, for support. The base were Americans who believed in hard were Americans who believed in hard work, law and order and love of country.work, law and order and love of country.

In March 1969, Nixon began a policy of In March 1969, Nixon began a policy of Vietnamization, in which the United States Vietnamization, in which the United States would train and equip the South Vietnamese would train and equip the South Vietnamese military until they were ready to fight for military until they were ready to fight for themselves.themselves.

In June 1969, Nixon announced that 25,000 In June 1969, Nixon announced that 25,000 troops would return from Vietnam.troops would return from Vietnam.

Nixon went on television to get support from Nixon went on television to get support from the American people when he promised all the American people when he promised all troops would be pulled out slowly from Vietnam.troops would be pulled out slowly from Vietnam.

The peace talks that were started under Johnson The peace talks that were started under Johnson kept going on under the Nixon administration.kept going on under the Nixon administration.

Nixon was asked by the President of Cambodia to Nixon was asked by the President of Cambodia to invade and remove communists from his country.invade and remove communists from his country.

Nixon agreed and invaded Cambodia in 1970. This Nixon agreed and invaded Cambodia in 1970. This agitated more Americans in that they started to agitated more Americans in that they started to believe Nixon was following the same course as believe Nixon was following the same course as Johnson.Johnson.

Huge demonstrations went on in American cities Huge demonstrations went on in American cities and on American college campuses.and on American college campuses.

Four students were shot and killed at Kent Four students were shot and killed at Kent State University in Ohio.State University in Ohio.

Two were killed at Jackson State College in Two were killed at Jackson State College in Mississippi.Mississippi.

The killings angered Americans even more.The killings angered Americans even more.Almost three years would pass until our Almost three years would pass until our

involvement in Vietnam ended.involvement in Vietnam ended. In January 1973, the major players in In January 1973, the major players in

Vietnam made peace-the US, the Viet Vietnam made peace-the US, the Viet Cong, the South Vietnamese and the North Cong, the South Vietnamese and the North Vietnamese came to terms.Vietnamese came to terms.

The United States agreed to remove all its The United States agreed to remove all its troops from Vietnam.troops from Vietnam.

The North and Viet Cong agreed to free The North and Viet Cong agreed to free American prisoners from North Vietnamese American prisoners from North Vietnamese prison camps.prison camps.

It was also agreed that there would be elections It was also agreed that there would be elections held in South Vietnam.held in South Vietnam.

By the end of March 1973, the last troops left By the end of March 1973, the last troops left Vietnam. The war continued and due to our Vietnam. The war continued and due to our involvement, 46,000 were killed and 300,000 involvement, 46,000 were killed and 300,000 had been wounded.had been wounded.

Senator John McCain-P.O.W.Senator John McCain-P.O.W.

Question 1Question 1What did Nixon promise regarding What did Nixon promise regarding

Vietnam?Vietnam?

Question 2Question 2What was Nixon’s policy of What was Nixon’s policy of

Vietnamization?Vietnamization?

Question 3Question 3What big error did Nixon make in What big error did Nixon make in

1970 that agitated many Americans?1970 that agitated many Americans?

Question 4Question 4What were the terms of the What were the terms of the

agreement reached on the Vietnam agreement reached on the Vietnam War in 1973?War in 1973?

Kent State MassacreKent State Massacre

Images of the Vietnam WarImages of the Vietnam War

Images of the Vietnam WarImages of the Vietnam War

The Most Famous ImageThe Most Famous Image

4.2 Improving Relations With the 4.2 Improving Relations With the Soviet UnionSoviet Union

As the United States was fighting in Vietnam, As the United States was fighting in Vietnam, relations between our nation and the Soviet relations between our nation and the Soviet Union were beginning to improve.Union were beginning to improve.

In 1969, the United States and the Soviet In 1969, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Union signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The treaty stated that nations that had Treaty. The treaty stated that nations that had nuclear weapons would not help nations that nuclear weapons would not help nations that did not have them.did not have them.

That same year, the United States and the That same year, the United States and the Soviet Union signed the SALT Treaty Soviet Union signed the SALT Treaty (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) that limited (Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) that limited the production of certain nuclear weapons.the production of certain nuclear weapons.

In May 1972, Nixon became the first In May 1972, Nixon became the first American President to visit Moscow when American President to visit Moscow when he signed the SALT Treaty.he signed the SALT Treaty.

Nixon felt that the two superpowers should Nixon felt that the two superpowers should have close business and economic ties. have close business and economic ties. The US backed up this promise by selling The US backed up this promise by selling American wheat-the largest American American wheat-the largest American export shipment in our history.export shipment in our history.

This policy called détente was a relaxing of This policy called détente was a relaxing of tensions between the two big superpowers.tensions between the two big superpowers.

Then, in 1973, Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev Then, in 1973, Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev visited Washington.visited Washington.

There he met with Nixon, American business There he met with Nixon, American business leaders and members of Congress. leaders and members of Congress.

The meetings achieved a few objectives: (1) the The meetings achieved a few objectives: (1) the United States and the Soviet Union would work United States and the Soviet Union would work on another SALT agreement (2) the two nations on another SALT agreement (2) the two nations would use nuclear war as a last resort in conflict would use nuclear war as a last resort in conflict (3) the two nations would work together in (3) the two nations would work together in areas of business, culture and science.areas of business, culture and science.

Leonid BrezhnevLeonid Brezhnev

Question 5Question 5What treaty did the US and the What treaty did the US and the

Soviet Union sign in 1969?Soviet Union sign in 1969?

Question 6Question 6What new policy was developed by What new policy was developed by

Nixon in regard to the Soviet Union?Nixon in regard to the Soviet Union?

4.3 Improving Relations With 4.3 Improving Relations With ChinaChina

At the same time of the Vietnam War and At the same time of the Vietnam War and discussions with the Soviets, Nixon was also discussions with the Soviets, Nixon was also improving relations with the Communist improving relations with the Communist Chinese government of Mao Tse-Tung.Chinese government of Mao Tse-Tung.

The Chinese government invited the The Chinese government invited the American table tennis team to China in American table tennis team to China in April 1971.April 1971.

In July, Nixon stated that he would visit In July, Nixon stated that he would visit China in 1972.China in 1972.

With China, Nixon promised a policy of With China, Nixon promised a policy of normalization-a return to normal conditions-normalization-a return to normal conditions-of relations between the two nations.of relations between the two nations.

In September 1971, the United States In September 1971, the United States finally allowed Communist China finally allowed Communist China membership in the United Nations. It took membership in the United Nations. It took over the seat that was occupied by Taiwan.over the seat that was occupied by Taiwan.

In February 1972, Nixon went to China In February 1972, Nixon went to China where he met with Chinese Premier Chou where he met with Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung.En-Lai and Chairman Mao Tse-Tung.

At the meetings, the two nations agreed At the meetings, the two nations agreed to establish closer trade relations. Nixon to establish closer trade relations. Nixon also declared that Taiwan was part of also declared that Taiwan was part of Mainland China. Nixon pledged to remove Mainland China. Nixon pledged to remove American soldiers from Taiwan and American soldiers from Taiwan and allowed for China to settle this matter.allowed for China to settle this matter.

In 1979, the United States formally In 1979, the United States formally recognized Communist China (People’s recognized Communist China (People’s Republic of China).Republic of China).

Nixon Visits ChinaNixon Visits China

Question 7Question 7How did American policy toward How did American policy toward

China change under the Nixon China change under the Nixon administration?administration?

Question 8Question 8When did Nixon first visit China? When did Nixon first visit China?

What was accomplished by the visit?What was accomplished by the visit?

4.4 Trouble in the Middle East4.4 Trouble in the Middle EastThere was also trouble in the Middle There was also trouble in the Middle

East during Nixon’s administration.East during Nixon’s administration.On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria On October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria

attacked Israel on Yom Kippur.attacked Israel on Yom Kippur.The United States was upset that the The United States was upset that the

Soviet Union was helping the Arab Soviet Union was helping the Arab nations, so they began to help Israel.nations, so they began to help Israel.

This action led many Arab nations to This action led many Arab nations to stop selling oil to the United States.stop selling oil to the United States.

In late October, the United Nations sent in In late October, the United Nations sent in troops to maintain a cease-fire in the area. troops to maintain a cease-fire in the area. This calmed down the US and Soviet Union.This calmed down the US and Soviet Union.

Nixon’s Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, was instrumental in the peace.was instrumental in the peace.

He called his policy, shuttle diplomacy, in He called his policy, shuttle diplomacy, in that, Kissinger went from capital-to-capital that, Kissinger went from capital-to-capital to handle the terms of the agreement.to handle the terms of the agreement.

A few weeks later, Nixon visited Arab A few weeks later, Nixon visited Arab nations as a way of bettering relations nations as a way of bettering relations between the US and the Arab world.between the US and the Arab world.

Yom Kippur War (1973)Yom Kippur War (1973)

Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger

The Arab Oil Embargo (1973)The Arab Oil Embargo (1973)

Price of Gas (1947-2007)Price of Gas (1947-2007)